You've seen the headlines: "Overdiagnosis: ADHD.
" According to studies, ADHD is the most commonly overdiagnosed and overtreated childhood disorder.
What separates high energy kids from those who actually have the symptoms to warrant a diagnosis and how can parents their kids reduce and treat their symptoms without drugs? These are the important topics that will be covered in this article.
Overdiagnosis ADHD: What the Experts Say It is well-known that professionals tend to overdiagnose ADHD.
In fact different protocol are used by different medical professionals in coming to a diagnosis.
Some use a battery of expensive tests, while others merely use rating scales or go through a checklist.
Understand that it's entirely possible for your child to be given a diagnosis of ADHD, when, in fact, he is just a high energy kid who is easily distracted.
Overdiagnosis ADHD: What Are the Symptoms? Keep in mind that a child with ADHD may exhibit one or more of these symptoms:

• Inattention - a child who exhibits this symptom has difficulty concentrating and is unable to stay on task long enough to complete assignments at school or chores at home.
  These kids appear to have difficulty listening and following instructions.
  Such kids have no trouble paying attention to activities that are entertaining and/or exciting, like television shows or video games.
  Mundane tasks, however, bore these kids to distraction.
  
• Difficulty controlling impulses - a child who has ADHD struggles more than other children when feeling frustrated.
  This can lead to inappropriate outbursts and temper tantrums.
  Another example of poor impulse control is blurting out things in class at a level which annoys the teacher and distracts other students.
  
• Hyperactivity - kids with ADHD have difficulty sitting still.
  They fidget constantly and have a constant need to move.
  To others, they may appear to be agitated, high strung and irritable.
  Not all kids with ADHD are hyperactive.
  

As you can see, many of the symptoms of ADHD are characteristics of normal children during various stages of development.
As adults, we can also exhibit some of these symptoms, especially when faced with tasks or chores that we really do not want to do.
One of the worst mistakes that parents and medical professionals make is drugging a normal child who shows these symptoms periodically.
Overdiagnosis ADHD: What Parents Can Do to Reduce Symptoms Natural remedies are a great solution because they have been shown to reduce the symptoms of ADHD as effectively as drugs, but without the worries of side effects.
Best of all, since these remedies provide the brain with the nutrients it needs to function optimally, daily use will allow the brain to work as it was intended.
This means your child will be able to calm himself, pay attention, stay on task, handle stress and get along with others.
Since these remedies are not habit forming, they can also be used by kids who have some symptoms, but have not been diagnosed with ADHD.
Since all natural remedies are not manufactured to the same standards, do your research and look for remedies that contain proven ingredients such as arson iod, hyocyamus and verta alb.
These botanicals work together to soothe the nervous system and calm the child, allowing him to improve behavior and productivity at school and at home.
Best of all, these remedies do not dope your child into a zombie state.
As you can see there can be a fine line between a high energy child and a child with ADHD, so don't let the recent trend of overdiagnosis ADHD pigeon hole your child into being diagnosed and overtreated with prescription drugs that have harmful short term side effects and whose long term side effects are not yet known.
Instead, give your child a natural remedy that will help reduce symptoms and heal the brain with regular use over time.