Does my child have ADHD?

Not every child who is hyperactive, inattentive, or impulsive has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Sometimes kids will just blurt things out, become forgetful or disorganized and jump from task to task.

In order to determine whether your child has ADHD, a doctor would ask the following questions: 

1) Are your child's behaviors excessive? Do they occur more often than in other children the same age? Are they continuous or just a response to a temporary situation?

2) Did your child's behaviors appear before age 7 and continue for at least 6 months?

3) Are the behavior issues causing problems for the child in at least two areas in his or her life (example: classroom and social settings)?

Children mature at different rates and are have very different energy levels and personalities. If you have concerns about your child's behavior, start writing down your concerns and discuss them with your health-care provider.

For more on diagnosing ADHD, click here.

Be sure to tune in to Dr. Sanjay Gupta every weekend on HOUSE CALL. You'll find the answers to your medical questions Saturday and Sunday at 8:30a a.m. ET on CNN.