Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsProfessional ScreeningsDSM-5 CriteriaLabs and TestsAt-Home TestingNext in ADHD GuideADHD and Hyperfocus: Understanding the Relationship
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Professional Screenings
DSM-5 Criteria
Labs and Tests
At-Home Testing
Next in ADHD Guide
If you suspect that you, your child, or a loved one may have untreatedattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you might be wondering if there are criteria for diagnosing ADHD. According to the latest edition of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5), there are specific ADHD criteria that a person must meet to receive a diagnosis.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
In this article, learn more about the specific ADHD criteria that must be met for adults and children according to the DSM-5, as well as what types of healthcare providers can assist in diagnosing ADHD. Self-testing or lab tests can be part of making an ADHD diagnosis but are not enough to confirm it.
A healthcare provider can confirm or rule out an ADHD diagnosis with an in-depth interview and physical exam. However, diagnostic criteria vary slightly depending on whether the patient is an adult or a child.
To determine whether you have ADHD, a healthcare professional will complete a comprehensive assessment using the diagnostic criteria set out in the APA’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5), the national standard for the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in the United States.
Finding the Right Healthcare Provider
Adults: If you’re an adult seeking an ADHD screening, you must find a licensed mental health professional or physician, such as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, primary care provider, or social worker.
Children: For children and adolescents ages 4 to 18, healthcare providers such aspediatricians, psychiatrists, and child psychologists can screen for and diagnose ADHD.
During COVID-19, many people living with ADHD experienced an uptick in distressing symptoms.
DSM-5 Criteria for an ADHD Diagnosis
According to the DSM-5, people with ADHD have signs and symptoms ofinattentionand/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that make it difficult to function on a day-to-day basis.
In order to be diagnosed with ADHD, children up to age 16 must often experience six or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. Adolescents 17 years and older and adults must have five or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.
These must last for at least six months in a life-disrupting way and be inappropriate for their developmental level.
Symptoms of inattention include:
Symptoms ofhyperactivityand impulsivity include:
Additionally, the healthcare provider will also need to confirm the following for these symptoms for an official ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD Diagnosis in Children
To diagnose a child with ADHD, a healthcare provider will complete the following steps:
Depending on the child’s symptoms, you may also need a referral to meet with a pediatric specialist for additional screenings for conditions like developmental disorders or learning disabilities.
ADHD in Boys vs. Girls
ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Foradults, the process of receiving an ADHD diagnosis is similar. During your visit, a healthcare provider will complete the following steps:
At the end of your appointment, your healthcare provider will share whether or not you have ADHD as well as other health conditions. After that, they’ll discuss treatment options with you and, if necessary, refer you to specialists for further screening and care.
The gold-standard diagnostic procedure for ADHD is an interview and physical exam to identify ADHD symptoms and other potential mental and physical health conditions.
Although you may have heard about various tests for ADHD, the condition cannot currently be diagnosed solely usingbrain imaging studiessuch as an MRI, PET, or CT scan. However, your physician may recommend blood tests, brain imaging studies, or anelectroencephalogram(EEG) to rule out other health conditions.
While there are many self-assessments and questionnaires for symptoms of ADHD available online, most are not scientifically validated or standardized. Using self-assessments can’t provide a definitive diagnosis, but it can give you an idea of whether it’s time to seek help for a professional screening. You shouldn’t use them to try to self-diagnose or diagnose others. Again, for a valid diagnosis, you must visit a qualified and licensed healthcare provider.
Summary
If you are curious about whether you or a loved one meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, you should see a healthcare provider to help you determine if you meet ADHD criteria. Mental health providers, primary care providers, neurologists, and other qualified providers can help diagnose or rule out ADHD. The DSM-5 lists ADHD criteria that must be met for a diagnosis to be made. Brain imaging, other lab tests, and self-assessments might be part of the diagnosis process but are not adequate alone to make an ADHD diagnosis.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hollingdale J, Adamo N, Tierney K.Impact of COVID-19 for people living and working with ADHD: A brief review of the literature.AIMS Public Health. 2021;8(4):581-597. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.09.08Koutsoklenis A, Honkasilta J.ADHD in the DSM-5-TR: What has changed and what has not.Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:1064141. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1064141Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and diagnosis of ADHD.National Institute of Mental Health. National Institutes for Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and teens: what you need to know.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) National Resource Center on ADHD.Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hollingdale J, Adamo N, Tierney K.Impact of COVID-19 for people living and working with ADHD: A brief review of the literature.AIMS Public Health. 2021;8(4):581-597. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.09.08Koutsoklenis A, Honkasilta J.ADHD in the DSM-5-TR: What has changed and what has not.Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:1064141. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1064141Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and diagnosis of ADHD.National Institute of Mental Health. National Institutes for Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and teens: what you need to know.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) National Resource Center on ADHD.Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hollingdale J, Adamo N, Tierney K.Impact of COVID-19 for people living and working with ADHD: A brief review of the literature.AIMS Public Health. 2021;8(4):581-597. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.09.08Koutsoklenis A, Honkasilta J.ADHD in the DSM-5-TR: What has changed and what has not.Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:1064141. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1064141Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and diagnosis of ADHD.National Institute of Mental Health. National Institutes for Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and teens: what you need to know.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) National Resource Center on ADHD.Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults.
Hollingdale J, Adamo N, Tierney K.Impact of COVID-19 for people living and working with ADHD: A brief review of the literature.AIMS Public Health. 2021;8(4):581-597. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.09.08
Koutsoklenis A, Honkasilta J.ADHD in the DSM-5-TR: What has changed and what has not.Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:1064141. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1064141
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and diagnosis of ADHD.
National Institute of Mental Health. National Institutes for Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and teens: what you need to know.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) National Resource Center on ADHD.Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults.
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