Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often thought of as being a concern specific to children, up to 60 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to display behaviors associated with it throughout their adult lives. In addition, there are many people who become aware that their problems may be the result of ADHD once well into adulthood. Adults who are experiencing problems with a short attention span, distractibility, disorganization, procrastination and poor internal supervision are often anxious to find ways to help them cope with and reduce these problems. ADHD screening can help these people to attain a diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment.
Screening for ADHD in adults
Currently, there are no physical tests to determine whether or not a person has ADHD. Instead, there are assessments which, when administered by a healthcare professional, can be used to diagnose this disorder. When dealing with adults, doctors will often have the patient self-report, completing the form on his or her own, and then review it with the doctor upon completion. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a form for this purpose: “the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population.”
Getting a diagnosis for ADHD
It is important to note that although the onus to report symptoms and behaviors is on the adult patient, a qualified healthcare practitioner must be the one to review the information gathered. Not all behaviors weigh equally and the combinations are also telling. The length of time the symptoms have been experienced and their impact on the patient’s quality of life are also important factors that healthcare professionals take into account when doing these assessments. Doctors will also be able to rule out other conditions whose symptoms can mimic those of ADHD.
Most employers and insurance companies will accept a diagnosis only from someone specifically trained to review this information, often a psychiatrist, psychologist or other credentialed medical practitioner. Adult ADHD screening tests can be found on the Internet, and although these tests are easy to find, and to take, the results are not professional diagnoses. In fact, many of the questionnaires can give very misleading information.
There are different types of ADHD
Another reason to see a professional for an assessment is that there are different types of ADHD. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2000), there are three different types of ADHD: inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive type and, combined type. Each of these types is treated differently.
Sources:
“Adult ADHD: Evaluation and Treatment in Family Medicine”, American Family Physician (2000)
“Screening and diagnostic utility of self-report attention deficit hyperactivity disorder scales in adults” Comprehensive Psychiatry, Volume 45, Issue 3, Pages 175-183 B.McCann
Katherine Scrimshaw - Katherine Scrimshaw is a freelance writer and editor with a background in public relations, broadcasting and not-for-profit administration ...
Join the Conversation