What is the earliest that you can test for or diagnose ADD/ADHD?

I think too often doctor's diagnose this too early. There is a series of tests that need to be done, from what I understand, to get a correct diagnosis. You can't just walk in and give a list of symptoms and be diagnosed. I wouldn't suggest it until the child is near 5 years old.

5 years old seems to be when most doctors will diagnose a kid. The reason, my son's ped told me, is that all too often the symptoms of ADD/ADHD can be explained by age in younger children and will go away in time. By the time a child is 5 or 6 it's easier to tell what is age/mateurity and what is ADD/ADHD.

Either way, no doctor will prescribe medication for it to a child under 5.

ny Dr in thier right mond will not diagnose a kid with ADD or ADHD until theya re in 1 st grade and then they need it to come from a school psychologist! If you are worried about it for your kid - look online about red, yellow, and blue dye. I had to cut them out for my youngest. Also give him OMEGA vitamins. Omega difficiency is the only link in kids who are diagnosed with ADD ADHD

Most symptoms of ADD/ADHD are just normal behavior for boys. ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed and overtreated IMO. If my oldest son were going to a public school, I guarantee you, he would have been "diagnosed" with ADHD and we'd be told to put him on meds, but there's nothing wrong with him other than being a normal, intelligent, 8 year old boy with ants in his pants and that's why we're going to be homeschooling next year ( he went to private school before). I looked up the symptoms of ADHD just out of curiosity and he has nearly every one of them, but I'm not slapping a label on him, because there's nothing wrong with him, HE'S A BOY!!

Out of 5 children, 2 of mine were diagnosed with ADHD...

We went to a specialist dealing with challenging children...drove 230 miles etc... He told us that prior to entering school it's hard to make a proper diagnosis due to activities and actions of kids.

I have seen them diagnosed prior to 6 or 7... due to symptoms...but hum... my own advice would be to work on changing the way you interact with them... choose your battles and be consistent.

The ADHD child needs consistency first and foremost...they will fight it all the way...but be consistent. example: if you do not want them to jump on the bed today because you have a headache... but tomorrow you let them jump on the bed - they are getting mixed messages and will not be able to figure it out.

so if they can't jump on the bed today - you will need to follow through with that one all the time...you are making that a battle then put your energy into that

my son has had signs since he was 1. we went thru therepy for over a year...and just got him diagonised bipolar and ADHD. he is 4yrs 5mo old. hes is little for his size so the psychologist gives him 1mg a day of ambilify and IT HELPS!!! fewer mean tantrums and head bangings /hittings he can pay attention better now and focus his thoughts. His speech has improved!!! it does take take. u cant just say "my son/daughter does this...hes add/adhd..." they make u see a therepest...if the therepist notices a real prob they will refer u after so many visits to a psychologist who can help u then better determine whats up.

My daughter has had syptoms since she was 1. She started head start this year and they noticed all the signes. After half a year they said somthing needed to be done. So I had to take her to her doctor the refured us to two different specialist. The ended up putting her on meds. She is only 3 1/2. But since she has been on the meds she is now starting to talk and do things she wouldn't do before. We are even starting to have succsess potty training because she sits still now. She is starting to play and sits down and wants to put puzzles togeather and they are having a easier time getting her to sit for story time. She is a different child now

i think that drugging children is wrong no matter how you put it i would never drug my children just learn to motivate and participate in as many activities there are children let them be young