ADHD..accurate diagnosis or result of Domestic Violence or familial conflict

ADHD can be misdiagnosed when the actual problem is domestic violence or severe familial discord. Research literature notes that children from homes with domestic violence may indeed have symptoms mimicking domestic violence. All too often, children who are hyperactive and/or inattentive are misdiagnosed with ADHD with no consideration to a differential diagnosis. Children from homes with high familial conflict may exhibit hyperactivity and /or disorders of attention. Frequently psychological testing is neither done nor requested; therefore, there is a lack of objective data. Parents would be wise to insist on objective psychological testing and assessment. Diagnoses OTHER than ADHD, out of necessity, must be considered. Moreover, there are methods other than stimulant medicines to approach this problem, viz, assistance with organization, family counseling, non-medication approaches to problems with memory and attention. One also needs to consider that children have developing frontal lobes predisposing them to problems with impulse control, attention, and organization. ADHD symptomatologies untreated can lead to substantial problems on adulthood, viz, problems with impulse control,organization and substance abuse.