| Millions of children in the US alone have been | | | | How Can You Keep Your Child from Overdiagnosis |
| diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | ADHD? |
| (ADHD). Children with this disorder show inattention, | | | | If your child is acting like he has ADHD, do not jump to |
| hyperactivity, and impulsivity and have problems with | | | | conclusions directly. Take him to a physician and have |
| their behaviors. However, it is sometimes normal for | | | | him undergo ADHD testing. Typically, doctors would |
| children to act hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive at | | | | perform EEG, a process by which the precise |
| times. Therefore, could it be that some children | | | | patterns of the human brain will be determined. They |
| diagnosed to have ADHD do not really have the | | | | may also subject the child who is suspected to have |
| disorder but are just normally hyperactive, inattentive, | | | | ADHD in a physical exam and developmental testing. |
| or impulsive? | | | | The results will help them determine the presence of |
| There has been controversy and debate about the | | | | ADHD in a child. However, some doctors are also |
| possibility of overdiagnosis of ADHD in children. The | | | | believed to diagnose ADHD in children without having |
| fact is that children may tend to have behavioral | | | | performed the essential steps. Thus, there are children |
| problems due to a number of reasons aside from | | | | who do not really have ADHD but are taking Ritalin |
| medically having ADHD. At times, the behavioral | | | | and other medications these days. |
| problems of children may be caused by depression | | | | If you do not want your child to be overdiagnosed with |
| over the death of someone they love, divorce of | | | | ADHD, you may want to ensure that your child's |
| parents, violence or domestic abuse, drug and alcohol | | | | doctor perform such tests if possible. Children with |
| abuse and many other potential factors. For these | | | | behavioral problems need testing, parents' support, |
| reasons, it is possible that many children are actually | | | | evaluation and the help of a psychologist. Who knows |
| taking Ritalin and other ADHD medications but do not | | | | that your child's behavioral problems may be cured |
| really have the disorder! | | | | without having to take too many medications? |
| Whether you like it or not, overdiagnosis ADHD is a | | | | If there is no need to put your child into medication, |
| fact. There are a number of conditions which may | | | | don't! You and your child's doctor should work closely |
| make the child seem like he is suffering from ADHD. | | | | to give the child the right medical attention. Provide the |
| Such conditions include toxic lead levels, reading | | | | doctor precise information so he can make proper |
| problems, hearing problems, bi-polar disorder, | | | | diagnosis and see to it that proper examinations have |
| depression, thyroid balance, chronic ear infections, post | | | | been made before the doctor rules out ADHD in your |
| traumatic stress syndrome, allergies, low blood sugar, | | | | child. You may also have your child undergo counseling |
| and learning disabilities. These conditions may imitate | | | | first so that any behavioral problems that may be |
| the symptoms of ADHD and thus, a child with these | | | | caused by other factors other than ADHD may be |
| problems may be overdiagnosed to have the disorder. | | | | determined. |