ADD/ADHD - Links for the Concerns

Safer Child encourages you to make sure that before you accept a diagnosis of ADHD and especially before you fill a prescription for medication, your child has undergone a complete physical exam to rule out other any other possible causes of the behavior (such as hearing or vision problems, insufficient sleep, chronic dehydration, snoring or sleep apnea, lead poisoning, giftedness, sexual abuse, poor discipline, etc.). According to the experts: ADHD should not be diagnosed in a 15-minute visit. If your doctor doesn't want to do a complete exam, consider finding another doctor. Symptoms should be present for at least 6 months BEFORE diagnosis. It is not recommended that children younger than 6 years old take stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Adderall, since their safety and efficacy in young children has not been determined. And, if medication isn't working, or if it's making your child's behavior worse, consider obtaining a second opinion. Besides the fact that ADHD medications can have a negative effect on children who don't need them, it's also possible for medications to conflict with each other or for medications to improve one symptom while worsening another.

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