| Diagnosing a learning disability or a medical condition | | | | effects in some children. |
| like ADHD can be complicated and inexact. In the | | | | In order for your child to be diagnosed with ADHD, |
| case of ADHD, many of the telltale symptoms are | | | | he or she must have consistently exhibited ADHD |
| also often symptoms of regular childhood behavior -- | | | | characteristics for an extended period of time and in |
| restlessness, rowdiness, and a tendency to be easily | | | | different environments (school, home, play..etc). |
| distracted. Diagnosing a learning disability or a medical | | | | Because many of the symptoms of ADHD are also |
| condition like ADHD can be complicated and inexact. | | | | common symptoms of depression or anxiety, the |
| In the case of ADHD, many of the telltale symptoms | | | | doctor or psychologist evaluating your child will want |
| are also often symptoms of regular childhood | | | | to make sure that your child is not simply reacting to |
| behavior -- restlessness, rowdiness, and a tendency | | | | specific situations. According to the Psychiatric |
| to be easily distracted. ADHD is treated differently | | | | Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of |
| from learning disabilities because it is thought to be | | | | Mental Disorders, which is often used in ADHD |
| different in nature. While most learning disabilities can | | | | research studies, common symptoms include: |
| be diagnosed through specific testing, ADHD requires | | | | -Difficulty organizing tasks and activities |
| a more subtle diagnosis through comprehensive | | | | -Often losing things necessary for tasks or activities |
| evaluation. | | | | -Often easily distracted by outside stimuli |
| A learning disability is generally caused by a | | | | -Not listening when spoken to directly |
| neurological difference in the brain structure of a child | | | | -Difficulty awaiting turn |
| that makes it difficult for him or her to process | | | | -Difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities |
| information in the same way as others. Learning | | | | quietly |
| disabilities rarely have anything to do with intelligence | | | | There is no single specific test that will diagnose |
| level and are generally not treated with medication, | | | | ADHD and each child will exhibit symptoms in a |
| as medication can do nothing to change a brain's | | | | slightly different way. As there are also no genetic |
| "wiring," or structure. Children with learning disabilities | | | | indicators of ADHD, diagnosis requires extensive and |
| have to be trained to compensate for them, and | | | | thorough evaluation. The U. |
| after they are diagnosed, schools can help them by | | | | S. Department of Education does not require a clinical |
| providing extra time on tests or other taking other | | | | diagnosis, which means that for school purposes, if a |
| special measures. | | | | school allows it, a school psychologist can diagnose |
| ADHD is not considered to be a learning disability as it | | | | ADHD in your child. If after careful consultation you |
| is thought to be caused by an absence of the | | | | determine that your child does have ADHD, be sure |
| neurotransmitter norepinephrine in parts of the brain, | | | | to evaluate multiple behavioral and medical or herbal |
| and not necessarily by the brain's "wiring." Medication | | | | options for treatment for ADHD before deciding on |
| can sometimes be used as a successful child ADHD | | | | the one you feel is best for your child. |
| treatment because certain kinds increase the | | | | Webmaster: You are authorized to reprint this article |
| production of neurotransmitters (such as Ritalin), but | | | | providing the author bio/resource box is left |
| these medications can also cause disturbing side | | | | completely in tact - including all hyperlinks. |