Is It Really ADHD? 
Not everyone who is overly hyperactive, inattentive, or impulsive
has ADHD. Since most people sometimes blurt out things they didn't mean
to say, or jump from one task to another, or become disorganized and
forgetful, how can specialists tell if the problem is ADHD?
Because everyone shows some of these behaviors at times, the
diagnosis requires that such behavior be demonstrated to a degree that
is inappropriate for the person's age. The diagnostic guidelines also
contain specific requirements for determining when the symptoms
indicate ADHD. The behaviors must appear early in life, before age 7,
and continue for at least 6 months. Above all, the behaviors must
create a real handicap in at least two areas of a person's life such as
in the schoolroom, on the playground, at home, in the community, or in
social settings. So someone who shows some symptoms but whose
schoolwork or friendships are not impaired by these behaviors would not
be diagnosed with ADHD. Nor would a child who seems overly active on
the playground but functions well elsewhere receive an ADHD diagnosis.
To assess whether a child has ADHD, specialists consider several
critical questions: Are these behaviors excessive, long-term, and
pervasive? That is, do they occur more often than in other children the
same age? Are they a continuous problem, not just a response to a
temporary situation? Do the behaviors occur in several settings or only
in one specific place like the playground or in the schoolroom? The
person's pattern of behavior is compared against a set of criteria and
characteristics of the disorder as listed in the DSM-IV-TR.
(Hits: 281 | Votes: 0 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2005-06-22 14:26:00)
|
Conditions and Diseases 
