Currently, the only way to determine if your child has ADHD is by going to a psychiatrist, psychologist, pediatrician, or social worker who will evaluate your child. These persons will ask you to describe your child s behavior, and then will determine if your child meets the criteria discussed above. Beside basing the diagnosis on the interviews with you, your child, and the child s teacher, the social worker may ask you, your child, and the teacher to fill out some questionnaires. These questionnaires are widely used, and are considered to be useful in determining if both children and adolescents have ADHD symptoms. While others may experience low frustration tolerance, temper outbursts, depressed mood, and stubbornness.
Academic underachievement is common.
The most commonly prescribed medication to treat ADHD is Ritalin, which is a stimulant. Other stimulants that may be used are Adderall, Dexedrine, and Cylert. Children as well as adolescents are initially started on a low dosage. Normally, the stimulant is tried for one week to determine if the medication is having an affect on the ADHD symptoms. Depending on the effects of the medication, the physician or the psychiatrist may recommend that the dosage stay the same or be increased.