Demystifying ADHD Diagnosis: From Childhood to Adulthood

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder or ADHD manifests very differently in children and adults. A GP cannot diagnose with you ADHD but they can refer you to a specialist if they believe you show the symptoms of the disorder. They may ask you about you or your child’s symptoms, when it started as well as when it’s most prominent. As well as if you have a family history of ADHD or if any major events have occurred in your or your child’s life such as death or divorce. 

If a GP suspects your child may have ADHD, they will often ask you to monitor them for 10 weeks to see if the symptoms subside or progress. They might also suggest a parent ADHD education group- this does not mean you are a bad parent it’s just that parenting a child with ADHD differs greatly from a neurotypical child. If the ADHD symptoms get worse or are affecting your child’s daily life such as schooling, your GP will refer you to a specialist for a formal assessment. Your child may be referred to a child psychiatrist or a paediatrician. There is no simple method to determine if your child has ADHD, however, professionals can give a diagnosis based on numerous interviews with your child, a physical examination and teacher reports. 

To be diagnosed with ADHD your child must have been displaying the symptoms for at least half a year and symptoms must have shown prior to the age of 12 as well as showing symptoms in at least two places. They must also have symptoms that make their social and academic lives significantly more difficult. They must also not have symptoms that are better accounted for by another condition.

For adults, a GP will assess your symptoms and possibly refer you to a specialist if you were symptomatic as a child but are undiagnosed or if you do not have any other mental health conditions that could explain your symptoms. Some adult symptoms can include underachieving at work or if you find romantic relationships difficult. A GP may also refer you to a specialist if you had ADHD as a child and your symptoms are causing you moderate to severe impairment in your life. 

Diagnosing in adults is more difficult as there are debates about whether childhood or teenage symptoms of ADHD are different to adult ADHD, however, the general consensus is that they are. In some cases, an adult may be diagnosed with ADHD if they have five or more symptoms of inattentiveness or impulsivity. A specialist will ask you about your current symptoms, however, an official diagnosis cannot be granted unless the symptoms have been present since childhood. A specialist may ask to see your old school records if you cannot recall childhood symptoms or to talk to your parents. 

Some common symptoms of adult ADHD are underachieving at work or school, driving recklessly as well as friendship and relationship difficulties.  If the problems have only occurred recently, you are not considered to have ADHD as it is currently believed that ADHD cannot surface for the first time as an adult.