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Everyone has moments where they do something impulsive, such as blurt out something they didn't mean to say, or lose interest in one task and switch to another before the first is complete. Sometimes, people get forgetful and disorganized, especially if they have a lot on their minds or are under a great deal of stress. Knowing when to have a child evaluated can be confusing. Some questions that can be considered when deciding whether or not to seek an evaluation include:

• Do these behaviors occur more often than in other children of the same age?
• Are these behaviors a continuous problem, rather than a response to a temporary situation?
• Do the behaviors occur in several settings or only in one specific place, like the playground or in the schoolroom?

If a parent, educator, caregiver, or other adult thinks that a child may have ADHD, the first step is to make an appointment with a professional (e.g., a child psychiatrist, psychologist, developmental/behavioral pediatrician, behavioral neurologist, or clinical social worker) who is trained to recognize the symptoms and pattern of onset. Although a pediatrician or general medical practitioner is often consulted first when families or individuals are seeking help, it is critical to remember that these individuals are trained in medicine and do not typically have expertise in psychological disorders or their diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, a medical evaluation to rule out other possible medical causes for the symptoms can be an important first step in the diagnostic process.

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