3.5 year old kids mom convinced dr. to give her son the medication for ADD?

I watch a 3.5 year old boy who is stubborn and defiant. Is mom took him to his Dr. today for a check up and some how convinced them he has ADD. Is this ADD? if not what affects can medication have on kid if he doesn't have this.

I think he is just being 3 . His mom asked me to teach him things that he will need to know for kindergarten when he is 5 and when we do school work he stays on task for 10 minutes at a time considering he is only 3 i think that is good.

I am not a Doctor so he may have it but i was concerned that if he doesnt have this will the medication harm him.

how else can you tell the difference from being stubborn and defiant to having Add or ADHD.

2010-05-04T22:06:36Z

i dont have issues watching him. I dont think he has ADD or ADHD and he is being a normal 3 year old testing us to see what he can get away with.

is the way he acts normal ? I thought most 3 year olds act that way.

Jennifer2010-05-04T21:35:04Z

Favorite Answer

A true diagnosis of ADHD or ADD requires a psychologist to interview the child and concur with the pediatrician. According to the AMA a child can't be diagnosed with ADD before the age of 6 because of the psychological aspect. I'm not sure exactly what effects the medication can have on the boy at this young age - but I do know that the doc that prescribed the medication is an idiot, lazy, or both.

lola2010-05-05T02:59:51Z

parents sometimes want their child to have a ADHD diagnosis to receive services

KitKat2010-05-04T22:03:07Z

you can choose to not watch the child if you personal morals conflict with the discipline style of the parents.