How to check if your child has ADHD

I believe that many parents are not very clear about the symptoms of ADHD in children and how to diagnose it. In fact, this knowledge is very simple. Parents can remember most of it after reading it once. In this way, parents can take better care of their babies in life and prevent their babies' condition from worsening.

1. Collect a detailed history of ADHD

Whether there is a history of similar diseases or other neuropsychiatric diseases in the family, the child’s maternal pregnancy conditions and the disease history of growth and development in early childhood.

2. Clinical characteristics:

(1) Hyperactivity: Most of them start in early childhood and become more prominent after entering primary school. They make small movements in class, tear up books, scribble on them, touch everything they can, like to tease, and often fight with classmates. (2) Inattention: They are not focused when studying, pay attention to the class for a short time, and react to stimulation from all sides.

3. Differential diagnosis:

It needs to be differentiated from pervasive developmental disorders, mental retardation, childhood mental disorders, organic mental disorders, neuropsychiatric diseases and drug side effects.

Because there is no clear pathological change as the basis for diagnosis so far, the diagnosis is still mainly based on the medical history, clinical manifestations, physical examination (including neurological examination) and mental examination provided by the parents and teachers of the children:

1. Symptom criteria: The following symptoms are more common than most children of the same age, and eight of the following behaviors must be present.

(1) Often moves hands or feet or twists in seat. (Older children or teenagers may only feel uncomfortable sitting subjectively.) (2) Has difficulty sitting still when asked to do so. (3) Is easily distracted by external stimuli. (4) Cannot wait patiently in line for a turn in a game or group activity. (5) Often answers before others have finished asking a question. (6) Has difficulty following instructions (not due to defiance or lack of understanding), such as not completing household chores.

2. Disease course standard: Usually onset before the age of 7 and duration of more than 6 months.

3. Exclusion criteria: Not caused by pervasive developmental disorder, mental retardation, childhood mental disorder, organic mental disorder, neuropsychiatric disease, or drug side effects.