Mental Health

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

ADHD/ADD | Causes | Diagnosis | Treatments

Diagnosis

What does an evaluation for ADHD/ADD involve?

A healthcare professional -- knowledgeable about and experienced at working with people with ADHD -- should be involved with the clinical diagnosis of ADHD/ADD. A comprehensive evaluation should involve:

a thorough medical and developmental history
behavior-rating system to indicate type and severity of symptoms
screening for learning problems or emotional problems
screening for co-morbid conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, or learning problems

What is the diagnosis criteria for ADHD/ADD?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume 4 (DSM-IV), criteria for a diagnosis requires:

Six (or more) symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months - to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level.
OR
Six (or more) symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least 6 months - to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level.

Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years.

Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (such as at school and at home).

There must be clear evidence of significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning.

ADHD/ADD can only be identified by looking for certain characteristic behaviors. They must be more frequent or severe than in others the same age. Above all, the behaviors must create a real handicap in at least two areas of a person's life, such as school, home, work, or social settings.

Once the disorder is diagnosed, a combination of educational, medical, and emotional help can be appropriately provided.

Complications commonly associated with ADHD/ADD:

Complications of ADHD/ADD may be associated with other problems of the Central Nervous System (CNS) such as:

learning disabilities (LDs)
gross and fine motor control delays (coordination)
Tourette's syndrome - tics and other movements like eye blinks or facial twitches that cannot be controlled
developmental delays (such as speech)
obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD)
oppositional defiant disorder (overreact or lash out with outbursts of temper; act belligerent or defiant)
depression or anxiety

This page was last updated on: February 5, 2008.

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