Confused about the diagnosis of child – Some doctors say ADHD, hyperactivity, Autism or Speech Delay. What should do I do?
When your child receives multiple conflicting diagnoses, ranging from ADHD to autism to a speech delay, it’s completely understandable to feel confused. The problem arises because these conditions share many similar traits, and it’s often hard to tell whether your child is just being rambunctious and energetic or if something more serious is going on. In truth, kids can display some of the symptoms of different conditions simultaneously, and it’s the doctors’ jobs to try to fit all the pieces together.
ADHD and Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity and the difficulties with attention and impulsivity are the main symptoms of ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. If your child is particularly energetic and fidgety, that doesn’t automatically mean that he has ADHD; many children are like this. In order for a child to have ADHD, his hyperactivity needs to interfere with his learning, relationships, and overall day-to-day activities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder affects a child’s social development and ability to communicate, and often comes with unusual, stereotyped behaviors or a lack of interest in engaging with people. Speech delay can also occur, though if a child is autistic, it’s more likely to be due to his limited interest in other people. Instead of making eye contact or responding socially, a child with autism is likely to be disinterested in other children and respond instead to physical stimuli.
Speech Delay
Chretien’s speech develops at different paces, and speech delay is simply when a child falls behind a predicted schedule for language development. Most speech delays will be corrected with a bit of help. Speech delay doesn’t involve the social difficulties or the aversion to eye contact seen with autism, but kids with speech delays tend to love playing and will use pointing, gesturing, and their faces to communicate.
The Causes of Differential Diagnoses
Doctors are human beings, and they all make different observations, so if one focuses on hyperactivity, another on communication, and another on social development then naturally you’re going to have some very different diagnoses! The different specialists focus on different details in the child’s life, so don’t worry-they’re not giving each other conflicting diagnoses intentionally! They’re both just trying to do their job to find the most fitting diagnosis for your child.
What Parents Can Do
If you’re struggling with a diagnosis or the lack thereof, there are several steps you can take. First of all, the best thing that you can do is seek an overall developmental assessment from a pediatrician. Take lots of notes when it comes to your child’s speech, social behavior and play, as well as noting how he responds to changes in environment. Finally, early intervention has been shown to make a tremendous positive impact on all children, so start getting professional help no matter what diagnosis he ultimately receives!
Conclusion
Children often suffer from the wrong diagnosis or multiple conflicting diagnoses, such as ADHD, Autism, or speech delay. The crucial part is for parents to stay calm and keep the child’s overall needs in mind. Despite certain similarities among all of these conditions, the correct diagnosis can do amazing things for a child, particularly when combined with early intervention. Staying in contact with professionals and learning from your child is the best way forward, regardless of the particular label that he receives.