If you have not had a medical exam recently, one might be recommended to rule out medical causes for your symptoms. While psychological testing is not used as the sole basis for diagnosing ADHD, it may be recommended to support conclusions and provide a more comprehensive assessment. You may also be screened for learning disabilities.
An ADHD diagnosis can cause you to feel a flood of emotions. You might feel relieved to have an explanation for your symptoms. Or, you may feel overwhelmed by what to do next. Don't feel rushed to make decisions about treatment; allow yourself a little time to process the new information before moving on to the next steps.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Diagnostic Criteria. At the Doctor.
Medical History. The Assessment Process. Several symptoms present before age 12 Symptoms are present in multiple settings home, school, work Symptoms interfere with or reduce daily functioning Symptoms are not better explained by another mental health condition. Download PDF. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. These are discussed in more detail below. The single most important part of a comprehensive ADHD evaluation is a structured or semi-structured interview, which provides a detailed history of the individual.
The interviewer asks a pre-determined, standardized set of questions in order to increase reliability and decrease the chances that a different interviewer would come up with different conclusions.
The clinician covers a broad range of topics, discusses relevant issues in detail and asks follow-up questions to ensure that all areas of interest are covered.
The examiner will review the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and determine how many of them apply to the individual, both at the present time and since childhood. The diagnostic interview: screening for other psychiatric disorders. The examiner will also conduct a detailed review to see if other psychiatric disorders that may resemble ADHD or commonly co-exist with ADHD are present. ADHD rarely occurs alone, and research has shown that more than two-thirds of people with ADHD have one or more co-existing conditions.
The most common include depression, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and substance use disorders. A comprehensive evaluation includes screening for co-existing conditions. When one or more co-existing conditions are present along with ADHD, it is essential that all are diagnosed and treated.
Failure to treat co-existing conditions often leads to failure in treating the ADHD. And, crucially, when the ADHD symptoms are a secondary consequence of depression, anxiety or some other psychiatric disorder, failure to detect this can result in incorrect treatment of the individual for ADHD.
It is also essential for the clinician to interview one or more independent sources, usually a significant other spouse, family member, parent or partner who knows the person well. Many adults with ADHD have a spotty or poor memory of their past, particularly from childhood.
They may recall specific details but forget diagnoses they were given or problems they encountered. Thus, the clinician may request that the individual being evaluated have his or her parents fill out a retrospective ADHD profile describing childhood behavior. This procedure helps the non-ADHD spouse or partner develop an accurate understanding and an empathetic attitude concerning the impact of ADHD symptoms on the relationship, setting the stage for improving the relationship after the diagnostic process has been completed.
If it is not possible to interview the loved ones, having them fill out checklists of symptoms is a good alternative.
Many adults with ADHD may feel deeply frustrated and embarrassed by the ongoing problems caused by the disorder. It is very important that the person being evaluated discuss these problems openly and honestly and not hold back information due to feelings of shame or fear of criticism. The quality of the evaluation and the accuracy of the diagnosis and treatment recommendations will be largely determined by the accuracy of the information provided to the examiner.
A comprehensive evaluation can include one or more standardized behavior rating scales. Scores on the rating scales are not considered diagnostic by themselves but serve as an important source of objective information in the evaluation process. Depending on the individual and the problems being addressed, additional psychological, neuropsychological or learning disabilities testing may be used as needed.
The testing can also help determine the presence and effects of co-existing conditions. For example, in order to determine whether the individual has a learning disability, the clinician will usually give a test of intellectual ability as well as a test of academic achievement.
If the individual being evaluated has not had a recent physical exam within 6—12 months , a medical examination is recommended to rule out medical causes for symptoms. Some medical conditions, such as thyroid problems and seizure disorders, can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD symptoms. A medical examination does not confirm ADHD but is extremely important in helping to rule out other conditions or problems.
Towards the end of the evaluation the clinician will integrate the information that has been collected through diverse sources, complete a written summary or report, and provide the individual and family with diagnostic opinions concerning ADHD as well as any other psychiatric disorders or learning disabilities that may have been identified during the course of the assessment.
The clinician will then review treatment options and assist the individual in planning a course of appropriate medical and psychosocial intervention.
Barkley, RA. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, fourth edition: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. Wolraich, M. ADHD diagnosis and management: A practical guide for the clinic and the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Brooks Publishing. Login Donate Join. For Adults. Finding a qualified mental health professional Finding a clinician that is especially familiar with ADHD is key to a good diagnosis.
The symptoms of ADHD tend to resemble those of other conditions, which may result in a misdiagnosis. Some characteristics of ADHD may also be symptoms…. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD can present differently in adults than in children.
Learn more about the symptoms of adult ADHD here. ADHD is a behavioral condition that affects an individual's concentration and activity levels. Is it possible to diagnose ADHD in a toddler? Who can diagnose ADHD? Who is qualified to diagnose ADHD? How to find a professional to diagnose ADHD. How to know if a person needs an evaluation.
How to approach a doctor about ADHD. Who can prescribe medications? Diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Other potential conditions. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What are the early signs of ADHD? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. What to know about ADHD misdiagnosis. What are the symptoms of adult ADHD, and what are the diagnostic criteria?
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