3. Diagnosing ADD is Challenging
Diagnosing ADD requires evaluating several areas of a child’s behavior over a three to six-month period. The affected individual must experience significant issues with the way the disorder affects their daily life. The condition must also cross over into multiple areas of life, such as schoolwork, social life, and family responsibility.
In many cases, the behavior exhibited by some patients may seem like nothing more than excessive hyperactivity, or some form of additional creativity. However, the condition continues to cause problems with the way the patient experiences life, giving them frustration in areas, even when they attempt to rectify the troublesome behavior.
No single test can confirm the condition, and physicians require various diagnostic tools to ensure that they administer a proper diagnosis. The physician may also rely on the advice of a clinical psychologist and an occupational therapist in making their final diagnosis of ADD.
After diagnosis, the doctor arranges a course of treatment for the patient, which may or may not include the use of medication to manage the condition.