| ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is | | | | Toddlers go through many changes in physical, verbal, |
| widespread in the USA and a real concern for many | | | | and emotional behavior during their first few years. |
| parents who have been diagnosed themselves with | | | | Some cannot seem to focus on tasks for longer than |
| the disorder. | | | | a second or two. This is normal in many cases and |
| In the USA we have a stop-at-nothing drive to know | | | | not cause for alarm. |
| that our newborn toddlers are healthy and will have | | | | What is distressing is that some parents, and worse, |
| problem free lives growing up. While some mental | | | | clinicians, will actually give medication to infants they |
| health disorders can be detected even in utero, is | | | | suspect of having ADHD. Mayes, Crites, Bixler et al |
| ADHD in Toddlers realistically able to be detected at | | | | (1994) held a blind trial of three daily methylphenidate |
| birth or shortly after? | | | | doses with 69 children aged 22 months to 13 years |
| No, not realistically. Though you may be the parent | | | | of age. |
| of eleven children already, eight of them being | | | | Would you let your 22 month old toddler take part in |
| diagnosed with ADHD and three not, you still couldn't | | | | a dose of amphetamines? |
| definitively say you recognize ADHD in your toddler, | | | | I must say it is frightening what parents and doctors |
| nor could you find a psychiatrist or psychologist to | | | | will do in order to apply treatment for behavior |
| diagnose attention deficit symptoms as full-blown | | | | resembling ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) - ADHD |
| ADHD. | | | | at such an early age. Could ADHD toddlers possibly |
| Why? The diagnosis as worded in the DSM-IV | | | | be intolerable and need medication at that age? I will |
| (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) | | | | go on the record as disagreeing with this approach. |
| does not allow for it in toddlers, though some | | | | Toddler behavior is infinitely variable, as is the |
| behaviors may appear to be present the American | | | | behavior of adults if you have not noticed. Dramatic |
| Psychological Association believes it to be too early | | | | changes occur over the first five years of life, to |
| to label ADHD. | | | | such degree that any short duration of expressed |
| Specifically a child should be 6 years or older in order | | | | ADHD symptoms can disappear completely by time |
| to be diagnosed with the disorder. The reasons for | | | | the child enrolls in school. |
| this are many. Imagine a child that is reacting to diet | | | | Do not be too quick to self-diagnose your child as |
| in a negative way that presents along the same lines | | | | suffering from ADHD or any other behavioral malady. |
| as ADHD. Likewise social settings can affect a child's | | | | With ADHD toddlers should be watched, and their |
| behavior significantly enough, that when changed, | | | | behavior noted as time passes. Does it change or |
| results in a positive change and lack of symptoms of | | | | remain? Giving toddlers medication for any reason |
| ADHD. | | | | should be a last resort. |