Deciding whether someone has Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a detailed process. It’s important to know that there isn’t one single test that can definitively diagnose ADHD. Many conditions, such as sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and certain learning disabilities, can share similar symptoms, making a comprehensive evaluation necessary.
When Should You Seek Professional Advice to Get a Diagnosis?
If you’re concerned that you or someone you know might have ADHD, the crucial first step is to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if the presented symptoms align with an ADHD diagnosis. This diagnosis can be accurately made by a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, or by a primary care provider, including pediatricians for children. They are equipped to assess symptoms and consider other potential health issues.
How is ADHD Diagnosed in Children?
For children, healthcare providers will thoroughly investigate whether there are other underlying conditions that could better explain the observed symptoms or conditions that frequently co-occur with ADHD.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommend that healthcare professionals gather information from multiple sources. This includes parents, teachers, and other adults involved in the child’s life to understand the child’s behavior across different environments, such as at home, in school, and during social interactions. This holistic approach is vital for an accurate diagnosis.
Further Reading: Understanding the Connection Between Family Health History, ADHD, and Learning Disorders
How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
It’s important to recognize that ADHD often persists into adulthood. While the core condition remains, the way symptoms manifest can change as individuals age. For instance, hyperactivity in adults might not look like running and climbing, but rather present as extreme restlessness or an inability to relax, sometimes to the point of exhausting those around them.
For a deeper understanding of how ADHD presents across different life stages, resources are available to provide detailed insights into adult ADHD.
For more comprehensive information regarding diagnosis and treatment throughout life, please refer to the resources provided by the National Resource Center on ADHD and the National Institute of Mental Health.
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: A Symptom-Based Approach to ADHD
Healthcare providers rely on the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) 2 as the standard guideline for diagnosing ADHD. These established diagnostic criteria are essential to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning for individuals with ADHD. Using a consistent standard also allows for tracking the prevalence of ADHD within communities and understanding its public health impact.
Symptom Thresholds for ADHD Diagnosis Based on Age:
The DSM-5 specifies the number of symptoms needed for an ADHD diagnosis, varying by age group:
■ For children up to 16 years old: Six or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity must be present.
■ For adolescents 17 years and older and adults: Five or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity are required for a diagnosis.
Individuals with ADHD demonstrate a consistent pattern of inattentionA and/or hyperactivityB–impulsivityC that significantly disrupts their daily functioning and development.
Understanding the DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD: Symptom Checklists
The DSM-5 criteria are presented here in an abbreviated format for informational purposes. It is critical to remember that only qualified healthcare professionals are authorized to diagnose and treat ADHD. Self-diagnosis based solely on symptom lists is not recommended.
Inattention Symptoms
Symptoms Checklist:
NOTE: These symptoms of inattention must have been present for at least 6 months and be inappropriate for the individual’s developmental stage.
- Frequently overlooks details or makes careless errors in schoolwork, work, or during other activities.
- Often struggles to maintain attention in tasks or during play.
- Often appears not to listen when spoken to directly.
- Often fails to follow through on instructions and does not complete schoolwork, chores, or workplace duties (e.g., starts tasks but quickly loses focus and is easily sidetracked).
- Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.
- Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework).
- Often loses necessary items for tasks or activities (e.g., school supplies, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile phones).
- Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
- Is often forgetful in daily activities.
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms
Symptoms Checklist:
NOTE: These symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity must have been present for at least 6 months and be inappropriate for the person’s developmental stage.
- Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in their seat.
- Often leaves their seat in situations where remaining seated is expected.
- Often runs about or climbs in inappropriate situations (in adolescents or adults, this may manifest as feeling restless).
- Often unable to engage in leisure activities or play quietly.
- Is often “on the go,” acting as if “driven by a motor.”
- Often talks excessively.
- Often blurts out an answer before a question has been fully asked.
- Often has difficulty waiting their turn.
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).
Additional Conditions for a Valid ADHD Diagnosis
In addition to meeting the symptom criteria, the following conditions must also be satisfied for an ADHD diagnosis:
- Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were evident before the age of 12.
- Symptoms are present in two or more settings (e.g., at home, school, work, with friends or family, in other activities).
- There must be clear evidence that the symptoms significantly interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, academic, or occupational functioning.
- The symptoms are not better explained by another mental health disorder (such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, or personality disorders). The symptoms should not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.
For further details on diagnosis and treatment throughout the lifespan, please visit the websites of the National Resource Center on ADHD and the National Institute of Mental Health.
