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The 4 speedy steps of AD/D diagnosis

The diagnosis of Add is divided into 4 very trouble-free steps:
Step 1 Look out for warning indicators.
Step 2 Exclude similar presentations
Step 3 Add an impartial evaluation
Step 4 Examine the history particularly areas relevant to ADD
Note: I will use children as an example but the diagnosis is easily extrapolated to the adult. For example an under function at school for a young child is like an under function at work for an adult so please adapt to your situation and if you can't understand how it works email me :) I'm here to help
Step 1: Alarm Signals
Usually there are 2 particular alarm signals that should make you think Attention Deficit Disorder - (Add):
* When a child significantly under functions at school despite normal intellectual capabilities. It is important to rule out learning disorders but that is step 2.
* When a young kid behaves in a way that is considerably unacceptable based on the standard of parenting and home environment. This simply means that the adolescent should be within normal behavioural boundaries for his/her age group and family situation. Obviously normal is hard to define so again the line is imprecise But you and I are both used to that idea by now.
Under function at school is usually the first presenting problem. Most fathers of Attention Deficit Disorder - (Add) children seek help after the start of schooling years. The teacher is often bewildered as this young child appears clever but is unable to meet expectations.
In most cases, the teacher initiates the first step and arranges for a child psychologist, or perhaps more common an educational psychologist to test the overall intellect of the kid and to exclude specific learning disabilities.
The results show a degree of failure which is not in keeping with the intellect and specific learning disorders. In other words they suspect that there might be something else ‘troubling’ the adolescent. Hyperactivity then becomes the primary consideration.
Unexpected behavioural problems at home tend to be a rather fuzzy symptom to look for. At home the Attention Deficit Disorder - (Add) children have equal love and discipline, yet one child seem to stand out as many times more difficult.
The mothers will be making heavy weather of management due to a cluster of telltale AD/HDD behaviours. Once alerted to the possibility of ADHD, it is time to move to STEP 2.
Step 2: Exclude false positives:
It is amazing that medical doctors are able to differentiate between AD/D and ADD look-alikes.
Many research journal imply that Add is easily confused with a long list of diverse complaints. This is most definitely true on paper and in practice. The reason for this is simply and you know it well. The signs and symptoms are too indistinct!
Many doctors of medicine however will tell you that they can tell without a shadow of a doubt that you child is suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (Add)…then they will go on to say something along the lines of ‘but they have a mild degree of learning disability as well.’
So much for the specificity. As a parent, please don’t get caught up in the detail. Just know that in clinical procedures, they always try to exclude (to the best of their abilities) any other cause for the behaviour.
Here are some of the most commonly quoted Attention Deficit Disorder With or Without Hyperactivity look-alikes.
Normal active preschooler. The hearing impaired child, intellectually disabled child, specific learning disabilities (which strangely enough was part of the associated symptoms with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - (Adhd)), autism, brain injury, epilepsy, childhood depression, family dysfunction and the list goes on and on and on.
If you really want to find out the possible look-alikes I have an extensive list at my site.