There are many symptoms that a person suffering from ADD will display. These include a lack of organization, restlessness, inability to concentrate, agitation and impulsive behaviour. However, these symptoms are easily mistaken with that of other diseases, such as thyroid, depression, or simply an excessive intake of sugar.

If you find that you, or your child, have constantly exhibited the above symptoms for a long period of 3 to 6 months, there is a possibility that you are suffering from ADD. However, it is extremely difficult to accurately diagnose ADD, which is the main explanation why some adults have never received treatment as a child.

Even if you firmly believe that you are suffering from ADD, or vice versa, the significance of this disease and the possible treatment options that you may seek mean that you should always seek a professional opinion. As ADD is a mental illness, it is difficult to test for it. Your symptoms could be a case of another illness such as autism or impaired hearing, or a high stress environment. Further, it is debatable to determine if the child is simply extremely precocious, or if he is hyperactive.

When you make a trip to your family doctor, or to a professional in this field, he will first run you through a thorough physical examination. This is to ensure that there is no other medical or physical cause for your symptoms, as many diseases display similar symptoms as ADD. In general, the symptoms can be classified into inattentiveness, hyperactivity, or both.

Your doctor will also run though your family's medical history to determine if it was genetically passed down, as well as to calculate the likelihood that any offspring will be vulnerable to ADD. Traumatic and significant events that have occurred in the recent history should also be discussed and shared, as they could contribute to environmental stress that your child has been facing, which caused him to display ADD symptoms.

Where possible, records of the individual's behavior and participation in class or at work, as well as interaction with his friends during breaks should be made available to the doctor. This will help to reduce any possible bias based on the child's preferences, or to determine if the child only acts up in a particular class or for all classes. Reasons for the child's inattentiveness could be a distraction from friends around him, a class bully, or that the child has poor vision and needs sight correction. It will also help your doctor to determine if your child's behavior and school results tie in with his IQ level.

All these procedures will be helpful for the doctor to compare against the DSM-IV criteria used to determine if the individual suffers from ADD.

Thus, whilst it is inadvisable to diagnose independently if you or your child suffers from ADD, it is recommended that you do your research and attempt to find out as much as you can about ADD, its symptoms, causes and treatments. A great place to start would be the Internet, and with relevant information you will be able to make informed decisions.