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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first taking your child to a family doctor or a pediatrician. Depending on the results of the initial evaluation, your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist or pediatric neurologist.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your child's appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms your child has at home or at school, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that your child is taking.
- Write down questions to ask your child's doctor.
Your time with the doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For ADHD, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my child's symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests does my child need?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- My child has these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Should my child see a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing for my child?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first notice your child's behavior issues or other symptoms?
- Have your child's symptoms been continuous, or occasional?
- How severe are your child's symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your child's symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your child's symptoms?
- In what settings have you noticed the symptoms: at home, at school or in other situations?
- Does your child consume caffeine?
- What are your child's sleep hours and patterns?
- How is your child's current and past academic performance?
- Does your child read at home? Does he or she have trouble reading?
- What discipline methods have you used at home?
- Describe who lives at home and a typical daily routine.
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 21, 2009.
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov. Accessed Jan. 21, 2009.
- Plizska S. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology. 2007;46:894.
- Vitiello B. Understanding the risk of using medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with respect to physical growth and cardiovascular function. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2008;17:459.
- Perrin JM. Cardiovascular monitoring and stimulant drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics 2008;122:451.
- Overview of Section 504. Council of Educators for Students with Disabilities. http://www.504idea.org/504overview.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
- Weber W, et al. Complementary and alternative medical therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2007;54:983.
- Jensen PS, et al. The effects of yoga on the attention and behavior of boys with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2004;7:205.
- Peck HL, et al. Yoga as an intervention for children with attention problems. School Psychology Reviews. 2005;34:415.
