Diagnosing ADHD
There isn’t one individual test to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but the first step to obtaining a diagnosis for a child is to visit with a pediatrician.
Children who have ADHD often show symptoms while they are very young. Parents may notice their child is very active, talkative, impulsive, or has more trouble listening or following directions than siblings or playmates.
ADHD is often first identified in school-aged children when it leads to disruption in the classroom or problems with schoolwork. It is more commonly diagnosed among boys than girls given differences in how the symptoms present. However, this does not mean that boys are more likely to have ADHD. Boys tend to present with hyperactivity and other externalizing symptoms whereas girls tend to have inactivity.
An ADHD screening has several purposes:
- To find out whether a child has the kinds of symptoms that indicate ADHD
- To understand whether they are severe enough and cause enough problems to require a diagnosis
- To make sure there are no different conditions that explain the symptoms better
- To understand if the child has more than one condition at the same
There’s no specific test for ADHD, but making a diagnosis will likely include:
- Medical exam, to help rule out other possible causes of symptoms
- Information gathering, such as any current medical issues, personal and family medical history, and school records
- Interviews or questionnaires for family members, the child’s teachers or other people who know the child well, such as caregivers, babysitters and coaches
- ADHD criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5, published by the American Psychiatric Association
- ADHD rating scales to help collect and evaluate information about your child
The results from the complete evaluation will be used to develop a treatment plan that is right for the specific child, including possible medication, therapy and support at home, at school, and in other activities.
Sources –
American Psychiatric Association
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD Treatment Guidelines
Sources –
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/treatment/
https://chadd.org/for-professionals/clinical-practice-guidelines/
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