How do doctors diagnose ADHD?

Question

What age is too young. I have a three year old boy who drives me nuts. He gets all the attention, I try everything with him. He is constantly yelling and throwing fits. Destroys everything I own. I don't want to drug him, but does he need it?

Answer 1

Doctors look at symptoms (as listed by you) to diagnose ADHD.  Your doctor will be reluctant to prescribe or diagnose your three year old son if the doctor is any good!  Try looking into different forms of discipline (not meaning spanking, necessarily, but teaching/training). Your son may be going for negative attention just to get attention.  Children need to feel wanted and important, so maybe you can give him a little job to help you out around the house, like holding a dustpan, and then tell him warmly what a big helper he is.  Focus on telling him the destructive behavior (not your son) is bad, but talk about what behaviors are good, then praise his good behavior for positive reinforcement.