How do I get my child tested for ADHD?

Getting your child evaluated for ADHD

1. Make an appointment with a specialist. As the parent, you can initiate testing for ADHD on behalf of your child.
2. Speak to your child’s school.
3. Give professionals the full picture.
4. Keep things moving.
5. If necessary, get a second opinion.

At what age can a child be tested for ADHD?

How early is too early to tell if your toddler or preschooler might have ADHD? Most children aren’t checked for ADHD until they’re school age, but kids as young as 4 can be diagnosed, according to guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). At that age, many kids are active and impulsive.

What tests are done to check for ADHD?

There’s no single test to diagnose ADHD. Instead, doctors rely on several things, including: Interviews with the parents, relatives, teachers, or other adults. Personally watching the child or adult.

What tests can confirm ADHD in children?

To diagnose ADHD, your child should also receive a full physical exam, including vision and hearing screenings. Also, the FDA has approved the use of the Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) System, a noninvasive scan that measures theta and beta brain waves.

Should I get my child tested for ADHD?

At what age should I have my child evaluated for ADHD? Most experts agree that it’s usually very hard to be sure whether a child has ADHD until he’s 6 or 7 years old. The difficulty is that many typical ADHD behaviors, such as having a short attention span and acting impulsively, can be normal in preschoolers and kindergartners, and children change so rapidly during these years.

Why is it difficult to diagnose ADHD disorder in children?

Diagnosing ADHD in young children. Although signs of ADHD can sometimes appear in preschoolers or even younger children, diagnosing the disorder in very young children is difficult. That’s because developmental problems such as language delays can be mistaken for ADHD.

What kind of specialist should my child see for ADHD?

If you suspect your child has ADHD, make an appointment with their primary care doctor. This doctor may be a general practitioner (GP) or pediatrician. If your child’s doctor diagnoses them with ADHD, they may prescribe medication. They may also refer your child to a mental health specialist, like a psychologist or psychiatrist.