Diagnosing ADHD: What you need to know
There are no laboratory or imaging tests available to determine a diagnosis; instead, clinicians base their conclusions on the observable symptoms and by ruling out other disorders. The specialist who conducts you or your child’s evaluation will ask you a range of questions that you should answer honestly and openly. He or she may also:
• obtain a thorough medical and family history
• order or conduct a general physical and/or neurological exam
• lead a comprehensive interview with you, your child, and the child’s teacher(s)
• use standardized screening tools for ADHD
• observe your child at play or school
• use psychological tests in order to measure IQ and social and emotional adjustment (Segal & Smith, 2014)
The mental health professional assessing the problem will also look at the following factors:
• How severe are the symptoms? To be diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms must have a negative impact on you or your child’s life. In general, people who truly have ADHD have major problems in one or more areas of their life, such as their career, finances, or family responsibilities.
• When did the symptoms start? Since ADHD starts in childhood, the doctor or therapist will look at how early the symptoms appeared. If you are an adult, can you trace the symptoms back to your childhood?
• How long have the symptoms been bothering you or your child? Symptoms must have been going on for at least 6 months before ADHD can be diagnosed.
• When and where do the symptoms appear? The symptoms of ADHD must be present in multiple settings, such as at home and school. If the symptoms only appear in one environment, it is unlikely that ADHD is to blame (Grohol & Martin, 2013).
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