Sometimes, specific signs of ADD may be present on the surface and at others, a more intense form of this psychological problem may manifest itself in the form of depression, arrested brain development, bipolar disorders or extreme nervousness, but the infrequent or occasional occurrence of a spell of inattentivity should never hastily be judged as ADD as it can be an allergic reaction, nutritional deficiencies or even due to environmental sensitivity or even excess caffeine in the diet.
The many possibilities besides ADD are also the reason why many a time physically active and energetic boys are misdiagnosed with having ADD when they exhibit generally adventurous behavior, short attention spans in school, changing thoughts and high bursts of energy, which are generally associated with ADD.
Since most school-going kids are keenly tuned in to TV programs in the upward range of 40+ hours a week or computer games, its natural that a lot of energy is saved up so can be easily directed towards activities, not necessarily indicating ADD.
In order to determine whether the suspected condition is actually ADD, mannerisms such as high creativity, ideation, being gifted or being visually innovative should be analyzed.
This high aptitude in a child suspected of having ADD must be properly studied, especially for those kids with short attention spans and those displaying agitation frequently; they may be treated with Dexerdine or Ritalin medicine but since these can have dangerous side-effects, they are only a temporary measure not a cure.
A child?s parents need to be alert and focused on the behavior of their kid in order to accurately look for and find the absolute mannerisms indicative of ADD existing in the child so as to get him or her the best treatment through timely, accurate diagnosis.