For those children who do, in fact, have ADD, it is of great importance that the diagnosis be made as early as possible so as to minimize the damage to self-esteem that usually occurs when these children are misunderstood and labeled lazy or defiant or odd or bad. The life of a child, and his or her family, with undiagnosed ADD is a life full of unnecessary struggle, accusation, guilt, recrimination, underachievement, and sadness. The sooner the diagnosis can be made, the sooner this unnecessary pain can cease.
