If you notice that your child is having problems paying attention and concentrating, you should do one thing in particular: do not jump to conclusions, but bring to mind that your child is currently in the middle of a development process, where he/she is learning to filter the important information out of a multitude of impressions.

If you feel, however, that your child’s lack of concentration is of a more persistent nature and you think it might not just be poor concentration but permanent AD(H)D, you should not rely on yourself alone. Instead, seek the advice of a doctor or psychologist: this way, you will be able to safeguard yourself from wrongly interpreting childhood high spirits and seeing them as a problem – or you will clear your conscience by knowing that you are giving your child the best possible help.

Poor concentration or AD(H)D, it doesn’t matter: you will find help and advice here

Should your child be diagnosed with AD(H)D, your doctor will be able to provide you with information on services available in your vicinity. Finding the right doctor, however, who you can trust, is a problem for many parents, as they are not able to tell how competent he/she is. The non-profit-making German Federal ADHD Association e.V. (www.adhs-deutschland.de) can help those affected thanks to the personal experience of their members: local contacts will provide you with tips and recommendations. The association does not publish a general list of recommended doctors. More information about ADHD you will find on www.adhd.com.au or www.myadhd.com.
Other contacts include the German Society of childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy e.V., DGKJP  and the Federal Association of Psychotherapists.

The following generally applies: parents, who are not sure whether their child’s concentration problems are due to a permanent weakness or a temporary lack of concentration and who then consult a doctor or psychologist accordingly are acting responsibly towards their child: they are offering him/her the best help to being successful when it comes to learning. Often, poor learning is constitutional and requires targeted treatment.