How Is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?
July 16, 2011 by admin
Filed under ADHD Medication, Adult ADHD, All Articles, Diagnose Adult ADHD, Treatment of Adult ADHD
How Is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?
While researchers may disagree about age of childhood onset in diagnosing adult ADHD, all agree that ADHD is not an adult-onset disorder and must be verified from childhood. An assessment of ADHD symptoms and behavior from childhood may include any or all of the following:
- A questionnaire to determine if the adult had ADHD in childhood.
- School report cards, if available, to look for comments about behavior problems, poor focus, lack of effort or underachievement relative to the student’s potential.
- Discussion with the parents to determine any symptoms during childhood.
- A complete history from the adult with the symptoms. He or she may self report symptoms in childhood.
- The developmental history would be consistent with ADHD, including evidence of problems with peers, other delays such as bed wetting, school failure, suspensions, or special interventions such as sitting in front of the class, etc.
A strong family history of ADHD may also be informative, given the strong genetic component of the disorder.
Most psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians diagnose ADHD based on a series of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms outlined in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). For someone to be diagnosed with ADHD, the behaviors must have lasted for at least six months, and be severe enough to disrupt school and other aspects of the individual’s life.
Inattention symptoms of ADHD include:
- Not paying attention to detail
- Making careless mistakes
- Failing to pay attention and keep on task
- Not listening
- Being unable to follow or understand instructions
- Avoiding tasks that involve effort
- Being distracted or forgetful
- Losing things that are needed to complete tasks
Hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms of ADHD include:
- Fidgeting
- Squirming
- Getting up often when seated
- Running or climbing at inappropriate times
- Having trouble playing quietly
- Talking excessively or out of turn
- Interrupting
Based on these criteria, the DSM-IV identifies three subtypes of ADHD:
1. ADHD, Combined Type: Both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms.
2.ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type: Inattention but not hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms.
3. ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: Hyperactivity-impulsivity but not inattention symptoms.
