Is It ADHD or Something Else?
Many conditions can make a child look inattentive. Some children have ADHD plus one of them. Here's how they're told apart.
"Can't focus" is a description, not a diagnosis. A child can look distracted for many reasons, and the right help depends on which one it is.
Common Look-Alikes
Anxiety
A worried child's attention goes to the worry. They may seem to tune out, avoid work, or fidget. Unlike ADHD, the inattention tends to come and go with the situations that cause stress.
Learning disabilities, including dyslexia
A child who reads slowly or struggles with written expression will look off-task during reading and writing, but may focus fine in other settings. Treating this as ADHD misses the actual skill gap.
Language processing problems
Children who have trouble following spoken language can appear not to listen or to forget directions, when the directions never fully registered.
Depression
Low mood brings low energy, slow thinking and poor concentration. In children and teens it can look more like irritability than sadness.
Autism spectrum
Social differences, intense interests and sensory sensitivities can all affect attention in class. ADHD and autism also occur together often.
Giftedness and 2E
A very bright child who is bored may act out or drift off. A twice-exceptional child may have both high ability and ADHD or a learning disability, with each hiding the other.
Sleep and health
Too little sleep makes almost anyone look inattentive. Sleep, hearing, vision and other medical questions are worth checking with your pediatrician.
Stress at home or school
Big changes, conflict, bullying or loss can all affect concentration for a while.
When It's ADHD and Something Else
These aren't always either-or. Many children with ADHD also have anxiety, a learning disability or both. If only the ADHD is treated, the other problem keeps causing trouble and it can look like the treatment failed. A comprehensive evaluation is designed to find each piece.
How the Evaluation Tells Them Apart
- A detailed developmental history: when problems started and where they show up
- Attention tested directly, not only rated by adults
- Reading, writing and math tested to find or rule out a learning disability
- Language, memory and processing speed measured separately
- Mood, anxiety and social functioning assessed
- Teacher input when appropriate, to compare home and school
A therapist who has worked with Dr. Tutty for more than 12 years describes his evaluations as very helpful in "differentiating complex diagnoses." That's the point of the exercise: the right answer first, and then a plan that fits it.
A Parent's Experience
“Dr. Tutty identified the learning disability that we all suspected, and moreover, provided a creative and practical way for my son to start reading again. He now loves to read.”
Eric H, MDEmergency Room PhysicianManhattan Office:
353 Lexington Ave,
New York, NY 10016
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