Attention Deficit Disorder

[*TripleJ*]

wasnt sure where to put this but there isnt anything about it on here

does anyone know how early ADD can be diagnosed?
because i know its a behavioural disorder but DH had it and im a little worried that DS might get it or possibly already have it the only reason i want to know is because i know they need extra attention especially with learning difficulties and i really dont want to have to drug him because it really messed DH up bad and now he has depression and anxiety which he has to take pills for so he has been medicated since a young age

sorry if that didnt make sense

[AliBaby]

II am pretty sure at school we have been told that it cant be diagnosed before 6 years of age.

[MantaRay]

Generally they won't diagnose before they have started school. There are a lot of things that have ADD type behaviour, and in many cases there is no need for meds. If you do pursue a diagnosis down the track, do a lot of research before agreeing to meds straight up. They already started talking to us about meds for our DS depending on how he goes at school next year, but we have since found out some other information about DS that means it's probably not ADD at all. Thank goodness we found out before we agreed to meds!!

[*TripleJ*]

thats wat i thought but i know of ppl that were diagnosed and didnt turn out to have it either and they were medicated for no reason and another who was also diagnosed but it was caused by her allergic reaction to certain foods coz shes asthmatic

[PumpkinZulu]

I am very against children being diagnosed with these sorts of disorders at such a young age...I don't think it really works, telling you they have this or that, most of the time they are just being children, and grow out of whatever behaviour that might be. My younger brother was also 'diagnosed' at a young age (3 or something) and it turns out he was just a naughty, free spirited kid, and a bit of a slow learner. Your DS is definately too young to have to worry about things like ADD hun. I have also read somewhere that it cannot (or should not) be diagnosed until the age of 6. Good luck, but I'm sure your little man is fine

[saslia]

DD was diagnosed during preschool at 5 and a 1/4 - concerns had been raised at Childcare and kindy before that.

[Lisa]

My eldest DS was diagnosed when he was 1/2 way through his first year at school. He was on medication for a few years which I hated giving him and he hated taking. He then started on fish oil tablets and has been on them since with very positive results. He is now 15 and there is not sign of him ever having had ADHD.
Shame his bad teenaged attitude isn't lessened by the fish oil! lol