Once the
diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is suggested in a child,
many parents scrutinize the 18 DSM-IV criteria and reflect that many of these
symptoms could be describing ordinary childhood behavior. A common discussion I have with parents involves explaining why symptoms of ADHD are different than ordinary... Read more
For over 100 years, the symptoms that constitute ADHD have been continuously refined by the scientific community. Many researchers note that one of the earliest scholarly papers on symptoms consistent with ADHD was written in 1902 by George Still, in which he described a series of children who exhibited impulsivity, inattentiveness and... Read more
When children come to a child psychiatrist for the first time, very often it is right after some major trauma or change that has happened in the child's life. Sometimes what has happened to the child is something that most adults would agree is a tragedy like the death of a parent or the child's home being destroyed by a fire. ... Read more
Sometimes parents are confused by the way that pediatric psychiatrists interview their children for the first time. It can be puzzling to see a psychiatrist playing checkers for an hour with a child while asking seemingly random questions. This is particularly confusing to parents who have received psychiatric care themselves, and had a... Read more