A diagnosis depends on a number of factors including the thoroughness of the evaluation, the skill of the physician, and the accuracy in reporting symptoms. While a diagnosis can look at past history and current functioning, it cannot take into consideration symptoms that have not yet occurred. If your child begins displaying new symptoms, an additional diagnosis may need to be added or the initial diagnosis changed. Here are some things you can do to increase the likelihood that your child will be given a correct diagnosis:

• Have your child evaluated - A large number of children are never correctly diagnosed because they are never evaluated.

• Give complete information - Don’t hide embarrassing symptoms from your child’s physician. Even if you think a symptom is not important it may help the doctor give a correct diagnosis.

• Ask questions - Find out why your doctor feels this diagnosis is correct and ask if any other condition could be contributing to symptoms.

• See a specialist - There is less likelihood that a condition will be misdiagnosed or overlooked if you take your child to a specialist.

• Second Opinions - Sometimes two heads are better than one. If you have doubts about the diagnosis or feel that you need to confirm it, then take your child for a second opinion.