How is ADHD diagnosed in children, teens and adults?

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How is ADHD diagnosed in children, teens and adults?

To diagnose a child, the healthcare provider must perform three tasks. The healthcare provider must: 1) identify the presence of ADHD symptom criteria, 2) rule out alternative causes of symptoms, and 3) identify comorbid conditions (other conditions such as depression or anxiety).

But, the job is not yet done. Certain conditions must also be met. First, the symptom behaviors must be present in two or more settings such as at home and in school. Second, the symptoms must be impairing. It’s not just that they occur as everyone engages in these behaviors sometimes. Third, symptom behaviors must have been present in childhood, typically before the age of 12 years. Last, the symptoms cannot be corollaries to another disorder that is not ADHD. For example, sometimes, when a person is depressed or anxious, inattentive behaviors may occur. The clinician will identify ADHD symptoms by asking you questions about your child’s behavior s at home and school (that is, behaviors your child’s teachers shared with you). Next, your provider will rule out other possible conditions that share some similar symptoms. These conditions include:

  • Anxiety.
  • Depression.
  • Learning disabilities.
  • Autism.
  • Undetected seizures.
  • Medical disorders that affect the functioning of the brain.
  • Thyroid disorders.
  • Lead toxicity (poisoning).
  • Sleep problems.

A sudden life change (such as divorce, death in the family, or moving to a new home) may also result in behaviors that could be confused with ADHD).

Sometimes, an adult will recognize the behaviors of ADHD in himself or herself when a son or daughter is diagnosed. Other times, adults will seek professional help for themselves and find that their depression or anxiety is related to ADHD.

The American Psychological Association has guidelines to help healthcare providers make the diagnosis. To be diagnosed with ADHD, children must have six or more symptoms in one of the two (or both) main categories — 1) inattention and/or 2) hyperactivity/impulsivity (see the symptom section) — of ADHD over the last six months. To be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, you must have five or more of the established ADHD behaviors in either of these categories for at least six months and there must be evidence such as recall of school experiences that indicates symptoms were present in childhood.

To reiterate, in addition to having ADHD behaviors, children, teens and adults must meet the following criteria:

  • The symptoms must interfere with school, home or work life.
  • The symptoms must be present in two or more settings (such as home, church, school, work, with friends, or social groups/activities).
  • The symptoms were present before the age of 12.

Based on review of the collected information, your healthcare provider may diagnose an adult or child with one of types of ADHD:

  • Predominately hyperactive/impulsive type: You or your child must have behaviors of hyperactive/impulsive behavior for the past six months, but not meet the criteria for inattention.
  • Predominately inattentive type (formerly known as attention deficit disorder, or ADD): You or your child must have behaviors of inattention present for six months, but do not meet the criteria for hyperactive/impulsive.
  • Combined type (inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive): Symptoms from both types of ADHD must be present for the past six months. This is the most common form of ADHD in children.
  • Other specified/unspecified ADHD: Children, teens or adults have inattentive type behaviors but do not meet the above conditions for diagnosis.

Keep in mind that symptoms can change over time and therefore so can the diagnosis of the type of ADHD.

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