Does my child or I have ADHD?
Tips to help alert for ADHD
In your child:
- Organize your child's old report cards or school records and look for patterns or comments
- Look for specific examples in different situations, like school, camp, or sports
- Ask for reports from caregivers, family members, other parents or adults who have regular contact with your child
- Talk with former teachers, religious and scout leaders, or coaches
- Organize performance reports from your work and look for patterns or comments
- Ask family members, friends, or colleagues about your behavior
ADHD is treatable. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, your doctor will team up with you and your child to identify a treatment plan that works for your child.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD. 2020. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
- Healthy Children. Diagnosing ADHD in Children: Guidelines & Information for Parents. 2017. Available at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/adhd/Pages/Diagnosing-ADHD-in-Children-Guidelines-Information-for-Parents.aspx. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Medicine Net. Inattention: Symptoms & Signs. Available at https://www.medicinenet.com/inattention/symptoms.htm. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Medline Plus. Hyperactivity. Available at https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003256.htm.
- Medicine Net. Medical Definition of Impulsivity. Available at https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=22330. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Medicine Net. Medical Definition of Symptom. Available at https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5610. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Diagnosing ADHD in Adults. 2020. Available at https://chadd.org/for-adults/diagnosis-of-adhd-in-adults/. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- DuPaul GJ. Parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms: Psychometric properties in a community-based sample. J Clin Child Psychol. 1991; 20:242.
- DuPaul GJ, Power TJ, Anastopoulos AD, Reid R. ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Checklists, Norms, and Clinical Interpretation. New York: The Guilford Press; 1998.
- DuPaul GJ, Power TJ, Anastopoulos AD, Reid R. ADHD Rating Scale-V: Checklists, Norms, and Clinical Interpretation. New York: The Guilford Press; 2016.
- Achenbach TM. Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist. University of Vermont: Department of Psychiatry; Burlington, 1991.
- Achenbach TM. Manual for the Teachers Report Form. University of Vermont: Department of Psychiatry; Burlington, 1991.
- Conners CK. Conners 3rd Edition. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems, Inc; 2008.
- Adult ADHD-RS-IV with Adult Prompts. Available at https://www.qandadhd.com/Content/pdf/ADHD-RS-IV_Tear-Pad-with-Adult-Prompts.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association. Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist. Available at https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf. Accessed June 7, 2020.