Find a therapist to help with ADHD

There’s no single gold-standard test for ADHD.

Comorbidity is common with ADHD and complicates the diagnostic process.

Comprehensive evaluation isn’t always necessary for ADHD, but it’s especially valuable for certain groups.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by a constellation of inattentive and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. The disorder is presented as a checklist of symptoms that must be present from the developmental period (before age 12 years) and evident across more than one setting (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The global prevalence for adults with ADHD is 3 percent (Ayano, Tsegay, et al., 2023) and 8 percent for children and adolescents (Ayano, Demelash, et al., 2023).

ADHD is often suspected when a person is having difficulties with managing their attention or impulses. ADHD is also the subject of many social media posts, often with misleading content (Yeung et al., 2022). Accurate diagnosis of ADHD helps individuals find the treatment they need, but what type of provider should someone reach out to for ADHD assessment?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) does not specify a specific test or method of assessing for ADHD. For children, the most accessible healthcare provider is their primary care provider. Pediatricians are usually the first providers a parent consults with when they have a concern about their child. When a child is struggling behaviorally or academically, a pediatrician may suspect ADHD.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has established guidelines for pediatricians regarding the evaluation and diagnosis of ADHD (Wolraich et al., 2019). Pediatricians look for symptoms consistent with the DSM; gather information from parents, teachers, and relevant sources; screen for comorbid conditions; and assist with management of the disorder (Wolraich et al., 2019). Many pediatricians use surveys, such as the NICHQ Vanderbilt ADHD Assessment Scale, to gather data from multiple sources.

The AAP recognizes the challenges in implementing guidelines. Many pediatricians have a limited amount of time they can spend per patient. Gathering additional records from school or therapy providers requires a care management system. An added complication in diagnosis is that symptoms of ADHD overlap with symptoms of other conditions, like anxiety, trauma, and autism.

Since ADHD is not a disorder that requires specific assessment practices, there are different professional opinions on the role of psychology in ADHD assessment. Some argue that pursuing a psychological or neuropsychological evaluation for ADHD diagnosis........

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