#Is my child adhd checklist full#
#Is my child adhd checklist professional#

Secondary anxiety occurs in certain circumstances. On the other hand, an anxiety disorder may be secondary to difficulties experienced by a child who has ADHD or a learning disability. If one or both parents remember being anxious in early childhood, or they still are, a diagnosis of anxiety is almost certain. If a child has had difficulty regulating stress and anxiety since early childhood, and his anxiety is pervasive, it is primary.

#Is my child adhd checklist professional#

A doctor or professional should determine whether the anxiety is primary or secondary. A superficial assessment might suggest that the child has ADHD, when he really has an anxiety disorder.Īn accurate diagnosis is critical to developing an appropriate treatment plan. As anxiety levels increase, the child may appear to be acting quickly or irrationally in order to minimize stress. Or it may bring worries or concerns that cause a child to be inattentive. Anxiety may cause restlessness that can be interpreted as hyperactivity. Yet merely ticking off prominent symptoms can lead parents and professionals down the wrong path. When the level of anxiety is greater than expected, we suspect that there is an anxiety disorder. We expect children and adolescents to be nervous at the doctor’s or dentist’s office or when faced with a new situation. It is normal to be anxious when taking a test or performing in the school play. Moderate anxiety helps children push themselves to succeed at home, with peers, and in school. Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life for children and adults. Within a week, she could focus on and complete her projects at the job.

I took her off anxiety medication and started her on ADHD meds. It seemed to me that her anxiety and stress in college and at work stemmed from inattention. But it didn’t help: She still needed a quiet space in order to stay focused. Garcia, a college graduate who held a prominent position in a consulting firm, took anxiety medication for three years. I diagnosed him with anxiety disorder and untreated ADHD. I also found that he had problems with organization. He daydreamed and lost track of what was going on. He was distracted by objects and noises in the classroom. I learned that Joseph did poorly in school. His mother admitted that she had similar behaviors as a child - and that she still had them. His parents said that Joseph showed signs of anxiety since early childhood. He was also afraid of elevators and other small, enclosed spaces. Joseph was nervous around people he did not know or when he had to speak in front of the class. His parents described him as quiet, shy, and “afraid of his shadow.” He had no friends, and he avoided sports or other group activities. Monica told me that, if she did not know what to write or had trouble reading in class, she was afraid that the teacher would be mad at her.įormal studies confirmed that she didn’t have ADHD, but she actually had a learning disability that caused her to be anxious at home and in school. My informal assessment showed that her reading and written-language skills were at the early second-grade level. Recently, she started showing signs of anxiety: She had trouble falling asleep by herself, and she was afraid to be alone anywhere in the house. Her pediatrician started Monica on a stimulant medication for ADHD, but her symptoms didn’t improve. Her restlessness in class and her inability to focus on classwork led her teacher to believe she had ADHD. Take Monica, a third-grader, for example. It is the task of the professional to clarify reasons for behaviors. Behaviors are messages, they are not diagnoses.

Or we see the smoke and conclude incorrectly what is causing the fire. The problem is that we sometimes see the smoke and miss the fire. If a child has excessive fears or worries, it must be an anxiety disorder. If a child can’t sit still, doesn’t stay on task, calls out in class, or shouts out inappropriate comments, they think it must be ADHD. Still, even professionals can misinterpret symptoms.

#Is my child adhd checklist full#

Distinguishing between ADHD and anxiety in children requires a full evaluation by a professional who is willing to dig deep. Children who display classic symptoms of anxiety disorder may have ADHD. ADHD and AnxietyĪ child who seems to have ADHD - she’s hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive - may have an anxiety disorder instead. Analyzing a child’s symptoms to make a diagnosis of ADHD or another brain-based condition isn’t always straightforward.Ībout half of all children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) also have a learning disability, mood disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anger-control difficulties, a motor tic disorder, BPD, or an anxiety disorder.