This is a common question in our office. A parent presents worried about their child acting out or in response to a suggestion from a teacher. Occasionally an abrupt drop in school performance will lead to an office visit. The question often asked is “How do I know if my child has ADD?”
One of the first considerations should be duration and severity of symptoms. Is my child only acting out at home? Are their grades suffering when other activities are going well? Consider what feedback you are receiving from other caregivers such as teachers, daycare workers and coaches. Moreover, have the symptoms just begun or are they ongoing?
A child with a fever and sore throat can have a throat swab for strep and confirm the diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are few rapid tests for confirming the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD. The symptoms must be evaluated with a careful history and physical exam as well as the application of screening tools such as the Vanderbilt Questionnaire. Typically we look for symptoms which are present in multiple environments such as home and school.
This can get complicated quickly. Many behavioral problems have symptoms which overlap. A careful history and physical combined with the testing measures and teacher feedback will help lead toward an accurate diagnosis. Only then can the appropriate treatment be initiated.
