Professionals face a number of challenges when diagnosing ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, especially when it comes to diagnosis and treatment in very young children. Currently, many believe that it is not possible to diagnose children under 5 years old with ADHD, as part of the diagnostic criteria includes “age inappropriate inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity” (Dias, 1999, p. 40). However, the question for children under 5 years old is, can inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity be age inappropriate?
Currently there is no specific diagnostic test that can identify ADHD with certainty. Therefore, professionals make this diagnosis based on symptoms listed in the DSM-5 – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In young children, this information will be gathered from the primary caretakers of the child – parents and family. According to the DSM-5, children and adolescents under 17 years old must exhibit at least six of the symptoms from one of the categories for at least six months (Felt, 2014). While there is a standard and criteria to be met for ADD/ADHD diagnosis, it is not an exact science.
ADHD medications for children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with …show more content…
A study of children with ADHD age 7 to 9 suggests that behavioral therapy options along with medication may result in longer lasting benefits than medication alone. There are a number of behavioral therapy options available, including “parent training, classroom management, peer interventions, and combinations of these interventions” (Felt, 2014, p. 458). The goal of each therapy option is to positively alter the child’s environment while educating the adults in the child’s life. This way, the child’s surroundings and social interactions are more conducive to his or her learning and
Currently there is no specific diagnostic test that can identify ADHD with certainty. Therefore, professionals make this diagnosis based on symptoms listed in the DSM-5 – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In young children, this information will be gathered from the primary caretakers of the child – parents and family. According to the DSM-5, children and adolescents under 17 years old must exhibit at least six of the symptoms from one of the categories for at least six months (Felt, 2014). While there is a standard and criteria to be met for ADD/ADHD diagnosis, it is not an exact science.
ADHD medications for children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with …show more content…
A study of children with ADHD age 7 to 9 suggests that behavioral therapy options along with medication may result in longer lasting benefits than medication alone. There are a number of behavioral therapy options available, including “parent training, classroom management, peer interventions, and combinations of these interventions” (Felt, 2014, p. 458). The goal of each therapy option is to positively alter the child’s environment while educating the adults in the child’s life. This way, the child’s surroundings and social interactions are more conducive to his or her learning and