I Think i have ADHD, Can You Help Me?

First, the diagnosis of ADHD can be somewhat of a lengthy process. There are many factors that can lead to difficulty in concentration and impulsivity. At the time of this writing, the criteria for ADHD diagnosis is only outlined for children up to the age of 18. 

So one of the first questions I ask clients who think they may have ADHD is:

Have you been diagnosed or treated for ADHD as a child or teen? 

• The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2019 published an update to The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment of ADHD in Children and Adolescents (Wolraich et al). It states clinicians should observe as well as obtain reports from at least 2 sources that the child is in frequent contact such as teachers, coaches, school counselors or leaders in the community before making a diagnosis. Testing such as Conners 3, IVA and neuropsych testing can further help with diagnosis. 

​​Another line of questioning is: Could your difficulty focusing be attributed to something else? Are you experiencing depression or anxiety? Have you been tested for a hearing, reading or comprehension difficulty? Has there been exposure to toxins like lead? How much screen time do you have in a day? Are you experiencing more than one of these factors?

• In order to make a proper diagnosis of ADHD, these other factors should be investigated to ensure clients get the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Short answer: it depends. To set realistic expectations, it may take a few sessions to figure out whether ADHD is the appropriate diagnosis. In accordance with guidelines, other factors previously mentioned like anxiety and processing difficulties must be investigated and treated first before considering ADHD diagnosis.

References:

• Mark L. Wolraich, Joseph F. Hagan, Carla Allan, Eugenia Chan, Dale Davison, Marian Earls, Steven W. Evans, Susan K. Flinn, Tanya Froehlich, Jennifer Frost, Joseph R. Holbrook, Christoph Ulrich Lehmann, Herschel Robert Lessin, Kymika Okechukwu, Karen L. Pierce, Jonathan D. Winner, William Zurhellen, SUBCOMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVE DISORDER; Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics October 2019; 144 (4): e20192528. 10.1542/peds.2019-2528​https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20192528/81590/Clinical-Practice-Guideline-for-the-Diagnosis?autologincheck=redirected