subject: ADHD Symptoms - When Should You Get A Diagnosis? [print this page] ADHD Symptoms - When Should You Get A Diagnosis?
Did you know that there now seems to be a definite link between ADHD symptoms and obesity later on in life? A study has just been published which seems to strongly indicate this. It was a very large study in that it followed 15,000 children for a fifteen year period from 1995 to 2009. This study has just been published in the International Journal of Obesity.
When these children became adults, they had to report which or any ADHD symptoms they had as children. The study found that there was a definite correlation. The adults who were suffering from obesity had more ADHD symptoms when they were children. In fact they calculated that those kids who had signs of ADHD in their youth were up to 50% more likely to be obese in adult life!
So, what is the age that you should seek an ADHD diagnosis if you suspect that the signs of ADHD may really be this condition? You want to make sure it is that, rather than other conditions which mimic the symptoms.
Most experts agree that the symptoms should have been present and impaired school and home life before the age of seven years. But many experts now argue that sometimes the symptoms may appear at an even later age and they are recommending that the new edition of DSM, the standard manual for ADHD, should raise the age from 7 -12 years. This has not finally been decided as this new edition is not due out until 2013.
Apart from the usual signs of restlessness, constant chattering and hyperactivity, there may be other worrying signs that you are concerned about. For example there may be aggressiveness and impulsivity which causes you to nearly have a heart attack as your child will jump off a high wall without having the slightest idea of the consequences.
But there are other indicators too that may make you feel that ADHD is a possibility. Your child may not fit in with his peers at play and at school there may be problems of him breaking toys unintentionally, being aggressive and tending to dominate with conversation. Not surprising that many ADHD kids tend to feel isolated. The other children may feel that your child is just too bossy and rough and that will mean a certain social exclusion.
When should you seek a diagnosis? The main criterion is that you have noticed that your child's life is being negatively affected by these possible signs of ADHD and cannot function like the other children at school, at play and at home. The problems seem to encompass most, if not all settings. Certainly if your child is only three years old, it is too early for a diagnosis but generally an ADHD diagnosis is sought after the age of five years.
So, there you have it. There is no need to rush into getting an ADHD diagnosis especially if your child is preschooler and is showing some ADHD symptoms. However there are exceptional cases.
In any case, if you are interested in getting the right kind of treatment for your child, make sure you check out my website as there are a few things there that your paediatrician or doctor may forget to tell you!
