Is Your Child at Risk for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, affects about 3 percent to 7 percent (approximately 2 million) of children in the United States. ADHD can interfere with a child's development, causing learning and social problems. It can last into adulthood, too - affecting careers, friendships, marriages, and parenting. Diagnosing ADHD as soon as symptoms appear is important so appropriate treatment can lessen the effects that ADHD has not only on the lives of individuals who have it but also on their families.
However, diagnosing ADHD can be difficult because it cannot be determined by laboratory values, x-rays, or other measurable tests. An ADHD diagnosis is based only on observation of symptoms, which can often be vague and unpredictable. To assist in the diagnosis of ADHD, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) established a guideline in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Text Revision (also called DSM-IV-TR). We have designed a quick and easy checklist based upon the APA guideline to help you determine if your child may have symptoms of ADHD. This Health Risk Assessment is not meant to diagnose ADHD. Instead, it is a way to help you decide if further medical advice is needed from your child's personal healthcare provider.
Last Updated: June 2007 This content was created by members of the DrugDigest team of experts and is solely under DrugDigest's editorial control.
