Diagnosing ADHD isn’t as easy as getting a physical test such as an electroencephalogram or blood test. In this video, an expert talk about how ADD ADHD doctors evaluate someone who may have the condition. The health professional will gather information to determine whether the symptoms align with those of ADHD. It can be tricky to make a diagnosis since issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and learning disabilities can present similar symptoms to ADHD.
ADD ADHD doctors will apply the guidelines indicated in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth edition (DSM-5), to aid their diagnosis. For children up to the age of 16, six or more symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity must be present for an ADHD diagnosis to be made. For those over the age of 17, five or more symptoms of the same need to be present. In addition, those symptoms must have been present for at least six months, as well as disruptive and inappropriate for their age. There are also four other conditions that need to be met, one of which is that the symptoms must have been present in two or more settings.
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