Did you know that some children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when their difficulties may actually be due to other concerns? Many children with ADHD are properly diagnosed with the disorder. However, there are a small number who end up being misdiagnosed.

One misdiagnosis problem occurs when children have been diagnosed with ADHD but their attentional or behavioral problems are actually due to a different cause. Some conditions that can mimic ADHD symptoms include anxiety disorders, OCD, adjustment disorders, learning disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, Aspergers Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, bipolar disorder, thyroid abnormalities and other concerns. In such cases, these children may be provided treatment, including medication, considered appropriate for ADHD., but which may or may not be appropriate for their particular concerns. In addition, the school system tends to consider the types of interventions, accommodations or services that may be appropriate for children with ADHD, but may not be appropriate for children whose symptoms only mimic ADHD symptoms.

Another misdiagnoses problem occurs when children are accurately diagnosed with ADHD, but also have an additional condition that has not been identified. It has been found that the majority of children with ADHD have another condition as well. But given the prominence of ADHD symptoms, the second condition often goes unidentified. Common co-occurring conditions include learning disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, sensory integration problems, and other concerns. Many of these children are receiving proper treatment for their ADHD symptoms, but may not be receiving adequate attention for the less prominent condition that may also be affecting their behavior and performance.

A sign that misdiagnosis may have occurred is when the treatment and intervention strategies that typically bring satisfactory results do not seem to be achieving their intended outcomes for a particular child. In such cases, it is often worthwhile to have the child further evaluated to determine whether something may have been missed. Accurate assessment can make all the difference in the outcomes and success for a child and family.