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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder (meaning, it’s a condition that can affect the growth and development of the brain). The condition is commonly seen in children and adolescents, but symptoms can linger into adulthood. ADHD symptoms can affect how your child thinks, behaves, and interacts with others and their environment.
There is no single test that healthcare providers use to diagnose ADHD. As a result, the diagnosis process involves many steps, including the use of physical exams and a variety of evaluations.
Typically, people with ADHD receive a diagnosis during childhood—which means that a parent or caregiver is usually involved in the diagnostic and treatment process. That said, your child’s healthcare provider or pediatrician may also seek insight about your child from teachers, coaches, or other important adult figures in your child’s life to make an accurate diagnosis.
If you are concerned that your child might have ADHD, talking with a healthcare provider is an important first step. A primary care provider or mental health professional (e.g., psychologist or behavioral health specialist) can help you evaluate symptoms, make an accurate diagnosis, and work with you to create a treatment plan that is best suited for your child’s needs.
It's important to note that people who begin to experience symptoms as an adult—particularly, adult women—often have a delayed diagnosis. This is because research on ADHD was historically done on young boys. Newer studies have found that symptoms in women and adults can present differently, which can sometimes make it difficult to recognize ADHD symptoms and make an accurate and early diagnosis.
Screening for ADHD can begin for children as young as four years old. When taking your child’s medical history, your healthcare provider may ask about:
Research shows that there’s a strong genetic component to ADHD. This simply means that ADHD tends to run in families. To assess family history, your child’s healthcare provider will also ask whether you or your immediate family members have experienced symptoms of ADHD or received an ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD symptoms like hyperactivity or inattention can interfere with schoolwork. To get a better sense of school performance and behavior, your healthcare provider may ask you the following questions:
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Generally, after a provider learns more about your child’s medical history, they will perform a physical exam to help them learn more about symptoms. During the physical exam, the provider will likely:
Results from the physical exam can help your child’s healthcare provider figure out if your child needs additional testing and rule out other health conditions.
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A healthcare provider may also want to learn more about your child’s developmental and behavioral history. During the developmental evaluation, the provider may inquire about:
During a behavioral assessment, a healthcare provider will ask you:
Your child’s healthcare provider may also ask you to complete a behavior rating scale—a questionnaire that asks about patterns of behaviors in different settings and environments. These scales can better inform your child’s provider to make an accurate ADHD diagnosis.
An ADHD-specific scale is a type of behavior rating scale. There are several ADHD-specific rating scales. Examples of scales include:
An educational evaluation helps your child’s provider learn about ADHD symptoms in an educational setting. This evaluation is usually completed by a teacher or teacher’s student aid. The evaluation typically includes:
For this evaluation to be reliable, teachers must have regular interactions with your child for at least four to six months. This allows teachers to better observe how often ADHD symptoms happen and how symptoms may be affecting your child in a school setting.
Healthcare providers use agreed-upon criteria to help diagnose health conditions. The DSM-5 is one of several tools that a provider can use to screen for and diagnose ADHD. During the diagnostic process, your child’s healthcare provider will use these criteria to provide an accurate diagnosis for your child and work with you to figure out a treatment plan, if necessary.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a set of criteria used to diagnose mental disorders such as ADHD. The most current version used by healthcare providers is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
The DSM-5 criteria for an ADHD diagnosis are based on age and the three categories of ADHD symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. There are three types of ADHD:
To receive a diagnosis for ADHD, children younger than 17 years old should have either six or more symptoms of ADHD, while people over the age of 17 should have five or more symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, symptoms of ADHD must:
Your child’s healthcare provider will look for the following symptoms:
Inattentive ADHD Criteria |
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Symptoms of Inattentive ADHD |
Making careless mistakes or lack of attention to detail |
Difficulty maintaining attention in school, at home, or during play |
Trouble listening to someone speaking, even when directly addressed |
Failing to follow directions or complete assignments and chores |
Avoiding tasks that require consistent or prolonged mental effort |
Not being able to organize tasks and activities |
Losing or misplacing objects |
Feeling easily distracted |
Forgetting things |
Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD Criteria |
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Symptoms of Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD |
Fidgeting hands or feet and squirming while sitting down |
Leaving seat often, even if required to stay seated |
Feeling restless |
Difficulty engaging in activities quietly |
Trouble staying still for extended periods of time |
Talking excessively |
Blurting out answers or responding to questions before they are fully asked |
Difficulty taking turns with others |
Interrupting or intruding on other people’s activities |
Some people may experience ADHD symptoms in only one category. But, others can experience an equal amount of symptoms of both inattentive-type and hyperactive-impulsive-type ADHD. If this is the case, your child’s healthcare provider may diagnose your child with combined ADHD—which is the most common type of ADHD in the United States.
ADHD symptoms can look like other developmental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. Some disorders may also co-occur with (happen at the same time) ADHD. These are known as comorbid conditions. Comorbid conditions for ADHD include but are not limited to:
During the diagnostic process, the provider may use a variety of evaluations to ensure that your child’s symptoms are due to ADHD and not because of another related condition. If your child’s provider is still unsure about the root cause of your child’s symptoms, they may opt for additional testing and mental health evaluations.
Remember: while symptoms of ADHD can be frustrating for both your child and you, it’s important to reach out to your child’s provider for testing and care to learn what is causing the symptoms and what you can do to treat the condition.
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