| Since new criteria to diagnose ADD and ADHD were | | | | deaths"). And psychology or psychiatry can take too |
| introduced, the percentage of children diagnosed with | | | | long, with much time spent going back and forth to a |
| ADD or ADHD has increased rapidly. Initially it was 3% | | | | clinic, sometimes with huge financial cost. But other help |
| of the child population, then 5%. In the USA and | | | | is available. |
| Australia, it's now about 12%. | | | | As with diagnoses, many websites have sprung up |
| Yet many parents don't know how to find fast, safe, | | | | from sales people offering their wares. Parents should |
| effective treatments to help their children. | | | | again beware. Many options offered on the Internet, |
| Diagnosis | | | | even options that are well known after being available |
| Since medical diagnoses became available, a child can | | | | for many years, have not been academically tested. |
| be assessed for ADD or ADHD symptoms with | | | | Some sites are quick to show photos and testimonials |
| validated forms from specialist doctors, educational | | | | by parents and children who were helped. But they do |
| psychologists or child psychiatrists. However, the | | | | not show how many failed! In other words, they could |
| waiting list may be long, and the cost may be great. | | | | show testimonials of 10 children that have been cured. |
| And for some parents there is also a feeling of 'stigma' | | | | But if they had to treat 1,000 children to find 10 |
| attached to having their child assessed by psychiatrists | | | | successes, that does not give parents a very good |
| etc. | | | | chance of success! 10 out of 1,000 means 990 children |
| Recently, new testing options have appeared online. A | | | | were not helped... |
| quick search of the Internet shows various websites | | | | It is recommended parents search online for ADD or |
| offering free assessments for ADD or ADHD | | | | ADHD treatments showing research evidence. Include |
| symptoms. | | | | words such as "university research" or "success rate" |
| But parents should beware. Many salespeople 'jump | | | | or "percentage success" in the search. |
| on a bandwagon' and offer free assessments that | | | | Also, many therapies online have not been shown in |
| are not medically acceptable. If parents do search | | | | research to be safe. So parents might wish to search |
| online for free assessments of their child's symptoms, | | | | for therapies with words such as "safe therapy" or |
| they should search for respected free assessments | | | | "safe and effective". Parents are more likely to find the |
| such as "DSM-IV free test", or "Conners assessment". | | | | best available quality therapies. |
| Online free tests give parents a guide as to whether | | | | So parents can now get a free test to assess if their |
| or not their child has ADD or ADHD symptoms. From | | | | child has ADD or ADHD. And if symptoms are |
| the results, parents can decide how to help their child. | | | | confirmed as being present in the child, parents can |
| Help | | | | search for properly validated therapies. Their online |
| Despite better available diagnosis, parents know little | | | | searches have a better chance of finding a safe |
| about how to help their children. Drugs can be | | | | therapy, with a high rate success, to help relieve their |
| dangerous (just search on the Internet for "Ritalin | | | | child's symptoms. |