Wonder if you're seeing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) signs and symptoms in your toddler or young child? We are all familiar with TV supersleuths who put together evidence to solve a case. Sometimes, being a parent involves detective work, too. During the early years, in particular, when language is not sophisticated, a parent must look for other clues to determine whether her child is on track, identify problems, and find treatments.
When a young child is highly hyperactive or impulsive, parents are often advised to "wait and see." Parents of boys who receive an ADD/ADHD diagnosis are routinely told, when their son is in preschool, that he's "just being boyish." But parents who are good detectives learn which environments are "hot spots" for their little ones, and begin to alter their expectations.