What is included in an evaluation to determine if someone has ADHD? The first step is a clinical interview also referred to as a diagnostic interview. During this appointment the clinician will gather information about your/your child’s family, birth, developmental, school/educational, work and psychosocial history. The individual’s history is important because it can provide information about ADHD risk factors. For example, it is important to gather family history because there is a genetic component to ADHD. Meaning that it often runs in families. (e.g., 30-50% of 1st degree relatives of children with ADHD also have the disorder). Other factors also increase the risk of ADHD including environmental risk factors such as prematurity, birth complications, maternal smoking, lead exposure/toxicity, and moderate to severe brain injury. During the clinical interview information about current concerns /problems are also reviewed. This information along with background history is then used to determine if testing is warranted. The clinician will also request school records, pertinent medical records, and any previous testing to review as part of the evaluation.
After the clinical interview is completed the testing session is scheduled. The testing is scheduled on a separate day and usually takes anywhere from 3-5 hours depending on the individual’s age as well as presenting concerns. As part of the evaluation, parents, other family members, teachers/supervisors may be asked to complete rating scales assessing the individual’s attention and behavioral functioning. It is important to gather information about the individual’s functioning across settings (e.g., home, school, work, etc.) to gain a better understanding of how the attention problems are affecting the individual. Throughout the testing session the clinician is also observing the individual. How someone approaches a task is just as important as how they actual perform on the task! The clinician is also observing other aspects of the individual’s behavior such as distractibility, ability to stay focused, need for redirecting, fidgeting, and restlessness.
The clinician reviews and analyzes the information gathered during the clinical interview, records obtained (e.g., school records, previous testing, etc.), ratings scales, results from tests administered, and observations made throughout the testing session to determine if the individual meets criteria for ADHD. The clinician’s diagnostic impressions are shared with you the day of testing.
Approximately 2 weeks after the evaluation is complete, you will receive a report that includes all of the background information gathered, behavioral observations, test results, diagnostic impressions, and most importantly recommendations. Recommendations are provided to help support the individual in all setting including home, school and/or work (e.g., preferential seating, scheduled breaks, extra time, reduced work load, etc.). Resources including books, workbooks, websites are also provided.