Parents role in diagnosing adhd
If parent notices symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention within the child at home, they may be expecting a call from a teacher regarding their child's behavior in school. Whatever the case, it is important that if a parent suspects symptoms of ADHD in their child and their child has been referred by a teacher, they go to a doctor or specialist to get a proper diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of ADHD again?
Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the three categories of symptoms of ADHD. Remember, children displaying these types of behaviors is normal, but when the behaviors are greater than similar behaviors observed in other children the same age, ADHD may be at play. In order to confirm the type, a person must have a specific number of signs and symptoms for six months or more and display these behaviors in more than one setting.
What will a specialist ask parents?
As a parent, you will most likely be asked the following things:
** If you suspect ADHD in your child, it may be helpful to keep a detailed journal and log any behaviors/symptoms that are problematic as they arise.
What will the specialist want from your child's school?
With parental permission, the specialist will usually seek information from your child's teachers about:
What other things will the specialist look at?
What happens after diagnosis?
When someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, the specialist will develop a treatment plan. Treatment may include medication, behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and educational approaches. The specialist will assess your child's behavior and work with you, your child and his teachers before treatment is started. This may include giving a score for different aspects of the child's behavior. The specialist can use this assessment as a starting point, or baseline, so that he can measure how much your child improves in the future. The specialist will set targets for different aspects of your child's behavior. This means your child can be scored after treatment has started, to measure how effective the treatment is. For example, your child's teachers may be asked to record how many times your child leaves his seat during a lesson.
The specialist will continue to monitor your child to assess:
Source: Coghill, D. (2013). How do doctors diagnose ADHD. Retrieved from netdoctor: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/adhd/howdodoctorsdiagnose.htm
Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the three categories of symptoms of ADHD. Remember, children displaying these types of behaviors is normal, but when the behaviors are greater than similar behaviors observed in other children the same age, ADHD may be at play. In order to confirm the type, a person must have a specific number of signs and symptoms for six months or more and display these behaviors in more than one setting.
What will a specialist ask parents?
As a parent, you will most likely be asked the following things:
- the problems as you see them
- your child's development and temperament
- your child's medical history, including any mental health problems
- any family history of ADHD and of mental health problems
- specific ADHD symptoms and when they started
- any other problems the child has
- your child's relationsship with you (and your partner)
- any parenting problems you may have
** If you suspect ADHD in your child, it may be helpful to keep a detailed journal and log any behaviors/symptoms that are problematic as they arise.
What will the specialist want from your child's school?
With parental permission, the specialist will usually seek information from your child's teachers about:
- behavior in class
- academic achievement
- relationships with other pupils
- response to discipline and authority.
What other things will the specialist look at?
- The specialist will often ask about your child's history, especially older children, teenagers and adults. Sometimes your child may mention issues relevant to the assessment that you or your family don't know about.
- The specialist will also want to examine your child, to find out whether there could be a physical disease causing his symptoms, or making them worse. The examination will also allow the specialist to assess the person's mental state and note down details she needs to know if prescribing medication. It will help the specialist to decide if your child needs to be assessed in other ways, for example by a psychologist, hearing expert or occupational therapist.
- The specialist might also want to carry out 'psychometric' assessments, which are used to assess mental abilities. These tests might measure things such as your child's reading ability, IQ, or speech. There are also special tests to measure attention and impulsiveness that are sometimes used as a part of the assessment.
- If your child has another condition, such as dyspraxia (which affects co-ordination), dyslexia, learning disabilities, depression or autism, this can mask the symptoms of ADHD. Screening for other conditions may also be apart of the assessment process.
What happens after diagnosis?
When someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, the specialist will develop a treatment plan. Treatment may include medication, behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and educational approaches. The specialist will assess your child's behavior and work with you, your child and his teachers before treatment is started. This may include giving a score for different aspects of the child's behavior. The specialist can use this assessment as a starting point, or baseline, so that he can measure how much your child improves in the future. The specialist will set targets for different aspects of your child's behavior. This means your child can be scored after treatment has started, to measure how effective the treatment is. For example, your child's teachers may be asked to record how many times your child leaves his seat during a lesson.
The specialist will continue to monitor your child to assess:
- how effective the treatment is for your child's main symptoms
- the most suitable dose of medication and any side-effects
- how your child is getting on socially, emotionally, academically and in terms of self-esteem.
Source: Coghill, D. (2013). How do doctors diagnose ADHD. Retrieved from netdoctor: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/adhd/howdodoctorsdiagnose.htm