Please be aware that not all health related information found on the internet is accurate. In fact, a simple web search we conducted on attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder using the Google search engine revealed that the vast majority of information found was ...... well, ......crap.

Just because someone has initials after their name does not make them a medical authority. And what sells TV news and books is controversy, not accuracy.  People with initials after their name are probably guilty of more misinformation on the world wide web than other people. Avoid any web site information which tries to sell you something, whether it's a book, a 'natural' remedy, or a medical device. Such sources are the modern day equivalent of the snake oil salesman.

Much of the medical information presented on-line quickly becomes stale due to new research.  But on-line information from less than reputable sources and rumor mills stick around for a very long time on the Internet--long, long after the conspiracy theories or false claims have been disproven.

When searching for legitimate health information on the internet, might we suggest that you stay away from the popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and the like. Instead, confine your search to direct links or search engines offered by major health related institutions such as medical schools, hospitals, or national stature organizations such as the National Institutes of Health or the American Academy of Pediatrics. Even information from these reputable sources may be false, misconstrued, or not applicable in your child's case. Overall, we prefer information obtained from a recent edition book published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, such as Caring for Your Baby and Young Child from Birth to Five or Guide to Your Child's Symptoms. If you obtain information that is any way questionable from whatever source, run it by your pediatrician before acting on it.

The US Centers for Disease Control lists the following points to keep in mind when evaluating health related information on the internet:

1. The ownership of the website should be clear.
2. The information provided should be based on sound scientific study.
3. The website should carefully weigh the evidence and acknowledge the limitations of the work.
4. Beware of 'junk science' and suggestions of 'conspiracies.'
5. The individuals or group providing the information should be qualified to address the subject.
6. Arguments should be based on facts, not conjecture.
7. The motives of the website should be clear.
8. The information provided should make sense (i.e., if it seems too good to be true, it probably is).
9. The website contains references from and to recognized peer-reviewed publications.
10. You should be able to obtain additional information if you need it.