The Diagnosis Team
Recognizing the signs of ADHD in your child can be confusing because all children exhibit ADHD-like behaviors from time to time. For instance, naturally energetic young children may become even more active when they are tired, hungry, or exposed to a new environment. A very young child will not always finish a drawing or sit through an entire storybook. Teenagers can be unfocused and restless. Do these children have ADHD? Probably not.

Because there is no single test that can diagnose ADHD and other conditions with similar symptoms, making a diagnosis can sometimes be complicated. It requires a trained professional who is able to examine all the pieces of the puzzle and correctly diagnose the problem. A pediatrician, developmental pediatrician, or behavioral pediatrician, a child neurologist, or a child psychiatrist usually leads this evaluation. Not all specialists are experienced in diagnosing and treating ADHD, so be sure to seek out someone who is.