How to diagnose ADHD inattentive type for 4.5 year old

[Anonymous]

I have a very strong feeling that DS, 4.5 has ADHD inattentive type. Even very minor things are a struggle with him. He also has obsessive interests and some ASD symptoms. However an ADOS test ruled that out earlier this year.
How can I get him tested for ADHD. I have read about a full neuro test being performed after 6. Can it be diagnosed as early as 4.5.
And do we go back to his dev ped for an assessment?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My kid's ADHD was diagnosed at 4 by a developmental pediatrician. We didn't attempt medication until 6.

If you've had a DP visit earlier this year, I would suggest trying behavioral therapy with your kid and taking a parenting class like Dr. Hackney's in VA or Dr. Shapiro's in MD or DC. Read the Kazdin Method as well.

At some point, you'll probably want to have him re-assessed. Regardless if it's ADHD or ASD or neither, you'll have stronger parenting skills and be able to handle the minor stuff better.

[Anonymous]

Thank you PP. I was planning to do some of these things myself. How do I go about behavior therapy. Do I look for a behavioral psychologist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PP. I was planning to do some of these things myself. How do I go about behavior therapy. Do I look for a behavioral psychologist

KKI's outpatient clinic in Columbia was covered by our insurance, but depending on where you live, it's a trek. KKI also has services for in-home sessions if you're in need of that.

If you're trying to find a behavioral therapist, look up who is covered by your insurance. ABA is almost indistinguishable from behavioral therapy, so if that's covered try that.

Lastly, you can contact SN schools that are near you and ask whom they recommend. Or you can look under the heading for "Special Needs and Home Therapy" from the last Ivymount School's Resource Fair: http://files.constantcontact.com/4bd8b013101/e84e0eaf-2fe2-4c60-bf9d-888dad4afb2c.pdf

(Behavioral principles for changing behavior is extremely similar for humans regardless of their diagnosis, and VERY similar to training animals if you've ever had a pet. It's all about positive reinforcement.)