Diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Health

Diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

There’s little wonder why Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is so difficult to diagnose. The neurobiological disorder is made up of subsets of symptoms that mimic several other disorders, including anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, and learning disabilities, among others. However, while there is no specific test used by doctors to diagnose ADHD, medical professionals look for patients to fall under one of the 3 subtypes of ADHD, or a combination of subtypes:

  1. Inattentive Type
  2. Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
  3. Combined Type ADHD

For instance, experts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, look for the following:

  • A minimum of 6 ADHD symptoms in patients.
  • Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months in duration.
  • Symptoms must occur in more than one setting (i.e., school, home, social activities, and ect.).
  • Symptoms must be present in children prior to 12-years of age.

An ADHD assessment is made up of data collected via several one-on-one interviews with parents, teachers, and ect., as well as the child. The interview screening portion is often followed by a physical examination to exclude other similar conditions. ADHD assessments can be conducted by the following healthcare professionals:

  • Pediatricians
  • Child psychologist
  • ADHD specialists
  • Specialists in learning disabilities
  • Occupational therapists

The majority of U.S. healthcare experts employ the following guidelines, as directed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in order to make a firm ADHD diagnosis. This includes looking for the following:

  • Symptoms that impact daily life (i.e., school and social interactions).
  • Trigger environments for symptoms (i.e., home or school).
  • Transitional life events (i.e., divorce, moving, changing schools).
  • Family history of ADHD.