Welcome to OMG Parenting!

We get to say ‘OMG parenting’ with many different inflections. I know because I am a parent. Also, I have been looking into the faces of babies, parents, and grandparents for over 20 years in my work as a clinical and public health nurse. I have felt the joys, hopes, disappointments, traumas, grief, fears, concerns, laughter and love of parents and children. I have heard their thoughts and feeling. I have seen their actions and the effects of those actions. I have interacted with the myriad of professionals who weave in and out of family life. Because of this and being a parent, I have a great appreciation for the range of experience that exists within and between each parent and child.

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Parenting Q & A

If you have any questions, email me at ns@OMGparenting.com

QUESTION

Parents often start wondering about ADHD when their child is a toddler. When can it be diagnosed?

Answer

First, ADHD diagnosis now includes looking for ADD (Inattention ADHD) as well as hyperactivity (what we are used to thinking of as ADHD) and impulsivity. There are clinicians who break it down even further.

It can be diagnosed when a child reaches 4 years if they have enough of the symptoms used to diagnose. Prior to that, honestly, most toddlers are just a bit ADHD-like! BUT you can notice early signs if they never take breaks or will do quiet time, or they are 3 years and don’t remember 2 or 3 simple tasks you ask them to complete over the next few minutes (that’s don’t remember, not “I don’t want to do it”), or they are always interrupting others.

A helpful chart about early symptoms is here.

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