Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
Diagnosis of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
There is no simple test to determine whether you or your child has ADHD. Both your GP and school can arrange for you and your child to see a specialist.
A specialist, usually a psychiatrist (an expert in mental and emotional health) or paediatrician (children’s doctor) can make an accurate diagnosis after a detailed assessment. This assessment should include a physical examination, which will rule out other possible causes for the symptoms. The assessment will also involve a series of interviews with you or your child and interviews or reports from other significant people such as parents and teachers.
To be diagnosed with ADHD:
- Your child must have six or more symptoms of inattention or six or more symptoms of hyperactivity and acting impulsively
- These symptoms must have started before your child was seven years old
- Your child must have been behaving like this for at least six months.
Currently, these guidelines are only accepted for evaluating children and adolescents with ADHD; there are no different guidelines for diagnosing ADHD in adults. If you are an adult and think you may have ADHD you should consult your GP who can refer you to a specialist.
