how young is too young to be diagnosed?

Dear JamJamIII,

My son is 5 years old and has ADHD he was just tested, but he had signs of ADHD way before now. I would check with your DR and get your child tested.

Dcarsen

Personally, this is my opinion as a mother of 4, diagnosing young children with anything is a mistake.  A bigger mistake is medicating them before 7 years.

I have my reasons for this belief, and will give them if you are interested. 

Here in Australia the government employs mothers in the community to become Day Care mothers.  In Australia you can get a rebate on your child care if it is in  a centre or with a DC mum, but not with a nanny or baby sitter.

It is a fantastic idea for kids that find it overwhelming in a day care centre and prefer to be cared for in a home environment.  The DC mum will care for up to 6 kids usually, so the children still have social interaction.

You can always see who the DC mums are at school, they have a big van, a huge amount of kids that look nothing a like and are usually extremely friendly.

I would not label your son  as anything or even take him in for evaluation until he starts school around the age of 5.

The reason being is to see if he is exhibiting symptoms both in a classroom setting AND at home. Remember, it has to be effecting ALL aspects of his life in order to truly be ADHD (this includes sports, peer groups, etc.) You want to give your child a chance to cognitively develop before labeling him...he may just be a little immature and one who likes to "think outside the box". And wouldn't the world be a boring place without colorful kids like that?

I am a therapist here in Florida that works with lots of ADHD children and I would definitely wait and see until he's at least 5. Don't let others pressure you either; remember she's a teacher and it's much easier for her if each child fits more into the typical mold because it makes her class run much smoother.

 But you are the MOM and you know what's best for your son in the BIG picture! Best of luck!

Thanks for the referral to the acusleep site - my son has night terrors all the time and he is 7.  It is great that you are checking everything out, and yes it is hard to watch your kids be miserable, do you work and have to have him daycare, could you consider withdrawing him until you have found some answers/solutions (including meds if you need to), this might give him the chance to have a break from all the conflict.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and she is great with me and most of the time her siblings, but put her in a daycare room and she will pick up the closest object and donk the other kids.  She really really hates people invading her space, and getting in her face.  Some of us just arnt people persons - and she is one of them.

I am one of those mums tho that think my kids have reasons for everything, stupid doting mother, the teachers say as I enter the room.  But my mum was the same, so I guess it is her fault.

The reason being is to see if he is exhibiting symptoms both in a classroom setting AND at home. Remember, it has to be effecting ALL aspects of his life in order to truly be ADHD (this includes sports, peer groups, etc.)  But you are the MOM and you know what's best for your son in the BIG picture! Best of luck!

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 Once again I am confused - In a different thread, I said this very same thing and some parents disagreed very strongly with me.  I was told that ADHD children can be different in school than at home.     .

Now you are a therapist and you are agreeing with my original opinion.  ADHD is a condition that cannot be controlled depending on the environment.  This makes sense to me, because if they could control it - I would not be giving my son medication, I would be smacking him bum.  Someone deliver me - I think the confusing is making me cross-eyed .

Janah please read through the thread titled "Topic: Tired of Crying"

and tell me what you think - its under Parents with Children

I WOULD NOT EVALUATE HIM OR PUT HIM ON MEDICATION NOW, BUT I WOULD OBSERVE HIM. My son is 9. He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 6 1/2, but certain things were telling me since he was little, that, there was somenthing wrong with him.  He  started  to walk after he was 15 months. He was in speech therapy at 2 1/2 because his vocabulary was very limited & hardly understandable. In social events, he was a little shy. However, most of his ADHD symptoms were more evident later on. Good Luck...

Read my story and if you agree with my solution please send a letter to:

 President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, US 20500
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461

I have a child diagnosed with ADHD, his taking Ritalin and he is in ESE (Exceptional Student Education). His mayor problem is reading & comprehension. He has improved, but he is not in the level where he is supposed to be for his age & grade. I'm worry that this situation can lower (even more) his self-esteem, for not been able to get the same achievements as other. This is frustrating for students, for parents & even for teachers. Parents are blamed; Children are blamed or labeled. Schools are blamed. This is a neurobiological problem. This is nobody's fault. But, we all can do something, let put pressure in our political leaders so these kids can get more help. I think by preparing a special program/classes for this kind of disability (with psychologists, neurologists, teachers and parents input)Having these kids in a full time (separate) school with a fully trained personal in this matter & where they don't see themselves as “retarded” because the rest are doing great and they are getting D's or F's, will help so much! If the government has money for special schools & programs for "gifted" students, why not to invest in those who are in a "bigger" academic need. In my opinion everyone will benefit from this, even students who are not ADHD. Medication should not be the only solution, after all, they have side effects, too.

There is between 3%-10% of students with ADHD in US. Isn’t that enough to at least try with a pilot school to see if it work? We need to put these kids back in their normal life, faster and with less medication.