How an ADHD Diagnosis Is Made

It's tough for parents to distinguish between an energetic child and one who has symptoms of ADHD, so it's important to see a doctor for an ADHD diagnosis. Find out the steps your child's doctor will take.

All children can act a little rowdy every now and then, but for children with ADHD, it's much more than a wild day here or there. ADHD is a complex disorder that, unfortunately, doesn't have a quick and easy diagnosis. After a lengthy evaluation and comparison of your child's ADHD symptoms to the actual criteria, your doctor can make the ADHD diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan for your child.

ADHD Diagnosis: Spotting Symptoms of ADHD

Before you take your child to the doctor for an evaluation, it's important to know what the symptoms of ADHD are.

The most common symptoms of ADHD include:

• Problems paying attention or following directions
• Talking very quickly and non-stop
• Needing to be very physical and constantly moving
• Frequently interrupting others' activities and conversations
• Acting or speaking out of turn
• Frequent careless errors or forgetfulness
• Lack of organization
• Inability to focus on the task at hand
• Frequently losing personal items, whether it’s a school book or a favorite toy

ADHD Diagnosis: The ADHD Evaluation

If your child has consistent behavioral problems or forgetfulness, talk to your pediatrician.

There is no blood test, exam, or imaging test that can identify ADHD, but a series of evaluations can tell doctors what they need to know. The first step in an ADHD diagnosis is ruling out any physical health conditions that could be causing the symptoms of ADHD, such as:

• A learning disability
• A middle ear infection or other hearing problems
• Problems with vision
• Seizures
• A reaction to a trauma or major change, like a divorce or major loss in the family
• Depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues
• Any other medical condition that could affect behavior

A physical exam, neurological exam, and a family and personal medical history for your child will be needed for these diagnoses.

Next, the doctor will need to know more details about the child's behavior and ADHD symptoms, including:

• When symptoms occur, and if frequency is different when around other children
• Where behavioral problems occur; for example in isolated locations — maybe only at home or only at school — or everywhere
• Severity and duration of the symptoms
• How symptoms affect the child's life
• How frequently symptoms occur, and if they are only triggered by certain situations

Another important part of the evaluation is for the doctor to simply watch and assess your child's behavior, and interview your child to gauge responses. A child may be evaluated while in a very structured environment or while playing freely. The doctor is trying to get a feel for the child's natural behaviors to see if any of the symptoms of ADHD are present.

ADHD Diagnosis: Is ADHD Really Over-Diagnosed?

The truth is that while ADHD can be misdiagnosed in some instances, all too frequently the opposite problem is true. There are many cases of ADHD that are overlooked in childhood and aren't diagnosed until much later.

These days more stringent criteria are in place to help doctors correctly diagnose ADHD. To be diagnosed with ADHD, children have to meet certain criteria — many of the symptoms of ADHD — and those behaviors have to be consistent over at least six months.

One roadblock to getting a correct assessment of your child is that ADHD often co-exists with other conditions and disorders such as learning disabilities, which can make ADHD more difficult to diagnose. It's also possible for extreme stress or a trauma to cause ADHD-like symptoms. That doesn't mean that ADHD isn't the cause, but it does mean that the trauma could be blamed while the ADHD goes undiagnosed.

If you suspect that your child has ADHD, make sure that you seek an evaluation. The sooner your child begins treatment for ADHD, the better it will be for everyone.