Filing For SSDI For Dependent With ADHD

Many, many children these days are diagnosed with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  Some doctors believe the condition is highly over diagnosed and that essentially normal children are misdiagnosed with the condition and improperly treated with methylphenidate or the “drug of the month” popular therapy.  And you can bet Social Security administration program adjudicators, by way of the Disability Determination Service, have also heard about the rampant over diagnosis of this condition.  Parents will have to be willing to go the extra mile to prove that their child genuinely has this disabling condition by providing extensive medical documentation and psychological reports with their application for benefits.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD

The ADHD diagnosis is based on the number, frequency and severity of the symptoms of the condition. Severe symptoms must be documented in at minimum two different environments such as one, school and two, home.  Adverse symptoms happening just at school do not qualify for a genuine ADHD diagnosis. 

Medical Evidence

Social Security will require that the applicant child provide them with medical evidence of (1) proof of the diagnosis of ADHD and (2) medical proof of symptoms of ADHD that cause the child to be unable to function in performing daily tasks on a level commensurate with non-disabled children of his same age.  This element of the applicant requirements is important with ADHD because even if the medical evidence submitted proves that the child has been properly diagnosed with the condition the Social Security may deny the claim if it finds that the symptoms demonstrated by the file do not show a level of severity to be approved for benefits. 

Mild Impairments

If a condition is determined to be mild or even moderately impairing the claim may be denied.  Inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity can be manifestations of child suffering from poor parenting and poor self control just as readily as a brain disorder causing that behavior which must be treated with brain chemistry altering pharmaceuticals.  Social Security is going to require extensive proof that your child is dealing with a mental disability of a significant magnitude for benefits to be approved.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with the learning disability ADHD and would like to look into the possibility of disability benefits with a Social Security administration program then it would be helpful to contact a disability lawyer to discuss the circumstances of the diagnosis and the disabling effects on that individual’s life.  An attorney can assist an adult or a child with ADHD in applying for disability benefits and collecting the required medical documentation to evidence the condition.