assessment for other psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, or learning disability.completion of behaviour rating scales by people familiar with the person (such as parents, partners, other family members, teachers and employers) that provide measures of the person's symptoms.school-related assessments, including reports of behaviour, learning and attendance at school and information on how the school is managing the behaviour for adults, historical records may need to be considered.a developmental assessment to determine the child's developmental progress this may lead to further assessment of vision, hearing and language ability.review of the person's history, especially childhood history.review of the person's current concerns, including the frequency and duration of the symptoms and any associated behaviours.a comprehensive interview with the person/adult caregivers (usually the parents in the case of young persons).The assessment process will differ according to whether the person being assessed is a child or an adult, but the key components include: It is common for children with ADHD to have co-occurring psychiatric conditions, the most common of which are disruptive behaviour disorders ('oppositional defiant disorder' or ODD - which involves a pattern of arguing with multiple adults, losing one's temper, refusing to follow rules, blaming others, deliberately annoying others, and being angry, resentful, spiteful, and vindictive and 'conduct disorder' or CD - which is associated with efforts to break rules without getting caught, and may include being aggressive to people or animals, destroying property, lying or stealing, running away, and skipping school), and mood disorders (depression, mania/bipolar disorder and anxiety).įor a diagnosis of ADHD to be made, a thorough assessment must be conducted by an experienced clinician, usually a paediatrician or psychiatrist, but sometimes a psychologist. The main symptoms displayed by children with ADHD vary according to age, but generally about one half will predominantly have inattention problems, a quarter will mainly have hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, while the remainder will have a mixture of these symptoms. Inattentive children who have difficulty listening and forget their homework may become adults who often complain of losing things, such as keys and wallets, and are often late for appointments. An impulsive child who blurts out answers in class, who constantly interrupts others and talks excessively may become an adult who displays impatience when in queues or whilst driving, and who may be impulsive with spending or quitting jobs. He or she may have troubling relaxing and may overwork. A child who squirms, fidgets and is constantly 'on the go' may become an adult who is less obviously physically overactive but experiences intense feelings of restlessness. In adulthood the symptoms are typically displayed somewhat differently to the way they are displayed in childhood. While many children and adolescents with ADHD improve as they grow up, many will continue to experience symptoms as an adult. Their levels of overactivity, inattention and/or impulsivity are severe and persistent and typically result in performance issues in social, educational or work settings. While these symptoms are normal characteristics experienced by all people at one time or another, among individuals who are diagnosed with ADHD, there is an overabundance of these characteristics. What other medications are used to treat ADHD?ĪDHD is a condition characterised by the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.Is it okay to give someone else my psychostimulant medication?.Can any pharmacy fill a prescription for psychostimulant medication?.Will treatment with psychostimulants lead to drug abuse?.Do I need to take psychostimulant medication every day?.How long should psychostimulant treatment be continued?.How often does psychostimulant medication need to be taken?.Is psychostimulant medication suitable for everyone?.
What should I expect when I'm diagnosed with ADHD?.
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