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How is ADHD Diagnosed?

A single test can never be used so as to diagnose ADHD. ADHD can only be diagnosed after a person tends to show some or all symptoms of ADHD on a regular basis for atleast 6 months or so.

Diagnosing ADHD in Children

A standard set of guidelines have been put forward by the American Academy of Pediatrics that can be used by health care providers, such as pediatricians or child psychologists to diagnose ADHD in a child. The diagnosis is inclusive of collecting information from a number of sources about the child such as from his or her school, caretakers and parents. A comparison is then carried out between the behavior of the child and the behavior of other children of his or her age.

Some symptoms that suggest the presence of ADHD in children include inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that can occur in a number of ways. A number of children with ADHD:

• Move about constantly.
• Squirm and fidget.
• Do not pay attention to what is being said to them.
• Can be distracted easily.
• Leave their tasks unfinished.

A full physical examination should be carried out so as to diagnose ADHD in a child. This can be inclusive of a discussion of medical history to screen for other conditions that may affect the behavior of the child.

Diagnosing ADHD in Adults

Diagnosing ADHD in an adult is not an easy task. At times, adults recognize their symptoms when his or her child is diagnosed with ADHD. On the other hand, adults uaully seek professional help for themselves and come to know that their depression, anxiety or other symptoms are related to ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults can be inclusive of:

• Constant lateness and absentmindedness.
• Nervousness.
• Lack of organizational skills.
• Low self-confidence.
• Problems getting employeed.
• Trouble controlling anger.
• Impulsiveness.

If these issues are not taken seriously and remain unmanaged, they can cause emotional, societal, occupational and academic problems in adults.

So as to be diagnosed with ADHD, an adult should be having these issues since his childhood. For a perfect diagnosis, the following processes should be considered:

• A history of the adults behavior as a child.
• An in-depth interview with the adults life partner, parent, close friend.
• A physical examination.
• Psychological tests.