Diagnosing ADHD

There is no single test to determine if a person has ADHD. A specialist makes the diagnosis by comparing a person's pattern of behavior against a set of criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association.

"Sometimes teachers may identify a child as potentially having ADHD," says Galil. "Parents will not always know because they organize and structure and manage so much of the child's life, it masks what's going on."

Although teachers and parents may recognize some symptoms, it's important to get a diagnosis from a health professional, ideally one with training in ADHD and mental disorders, says the NIMH. This may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, behavioral neurologist, or a developmental or behavioral pediatrician. More than one health professional may be consulted to diagnose and treat ADHD, since medical and psychological tests, medication, and counseling may be involved.

"Many health professionals believe that ADHD is over-diagnosed," says Andreason, and doctors need to consider the complete history of patients before diagnosing them.

"It's a hard diagnosis to tease out, and we need to spend some time asking questions about all areas of their life," adds Edmund Higgins, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine and psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina and a psychiatrist in private practice.

Some adults may discover they have ADHD only after their children are diagnosed with the disorder. That's how Toni Wood found out she had it.

Wood, of Chesapeake, Va., was a hyperactive child, always getting into trouble at school and always in the principal's office, she says. "If I was quiet, I was sick." Throughout her school years, she had a hard time processing information and asked a lot of questions in class. "It really frustrated me, and everybody was looking at me and rolling their eyes. I knew I wasn't stupid, but I was always behind."

Wood persevered, graduating from high school, serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, and going to college. Civilian life was daunting for her after the structured military environment where "they told you what to wear and what to do," says Wood. She graduated from college, but continued to have difficulty with daily activities — paying bills and completing tasks, especially in the evening when she was most fidgety and inattentive. "I thought I was going crazy," she says.

At age 38, Wood found out that she wasn't crazy. After both her sons were diagnosed with ADHD, Wood's doctor diagnosed her with the condition, too. She felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders, she says. "I'm not using ADHD as an excuse; it's an explanation. Now I understand why."

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