ADHD: How Young is Too Young?

An issue arises when considering pre-school aged children for an ADHD diagnosis.

On one hand, a diagnosis is best made as early as possible in order to implement treatment at a young age. Early identification and treatment of ADHD could prevent significant impairment. For example, utilizing behavioral techniques early in school can prevent learning difficulties. But how young is too young for a diagnosis?

When so many children display inattentiveness and hyperactivity, it is sometimes hard to make the distinction between what is typical and what is not. Therefore, a careful assessment of your child is needed. If a child is falsely diagnosed with ADHD, there is a risk of effects from labeling and a risk of giving the child unneeded medication.

According to some professional opinions, it is better to over-diagnose ADHD in order to prevent potential future impairment. With this over-diagnosis, it is also necessary to keep in mind that about half of preschoolers who meet the criteria for ADHD will continue to meet these criteria at the end of elementary school.

Contact Dr. Gordon for a professional assessment of your child:

 Contact Dr. Gordon for a professional assessment of your child. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

written by: 
Brianna Malinowski , 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Hinshaw, S., & Scheffler, R. (2014). The ADHD Explosion. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.