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