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Diagnosis of ADHD
Criteria for Diagnosis of ADHD
The criteria for diagnosis of ADHD set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of psychiatric disorders include:
Inattention:
- Often fails to pay close attention to details and makes careless mistakes
- Often has difficulty sustaining attention
- Often does not seem to listen
- Often does not seem to follow through
- Often has difficulty organizing tasks
- Often avoids tasks that require sustained attention
- Often loses things
- Often is easily distracted
- Often is forgetful
Hyperactivity-impulsivity:
- Often fidgets
- Often leaves seat
- Often runs about or climbs excessively
- Often has difficulty with quiet activity
- Often seems to be driven in his/her activity
- Often talks excessively
- Often blurts out answers
- Often has difficulty awaiting turn
- Often interrupts or intrudes
In order to reach a diagnosis of ADHD, the child who exhibits these symptoms must:
- Have 6 or more symptoms of either type of ADHD - inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity
- Behavior must be more severe than other children the same age
- Behavior must last at least 6 months
- Behavior must occur in at least 2 settings (e.g., home and school) and cause impairment
- Present and cause impairment before the age of 7
- Behavior cannot be attributable to any stress at home (such as divorce or death)
For more information found in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding ADHD, please click on the following link:
