I Think My Child Has ADHD. How Do I Find Out For Sure?

You’re a parent who’s concerned about your child’s behavior. You’ve compared your child’s behavior with that of others their age, and there are notable differences. 

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) demonstrate two behavioral patterns: inattention and/or hyperactivity. Both hinder learning and the ability to make friends in childhood, and both can make school in particular and life in general difficult. 

Our psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners with Nunn Psychiatric Care are specially trained to diagnose and counsel ADHD children and adults. Following is an overview of the steps we take in determining whether your child has ADHD. 

What is the most effective method for diagnosing ADHD in a child? 

Only a trained medical professional should diagnose ADHD in your child. Unlike a registered nurse (RN) in your doctor’s office, our psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners have received extensive training in diagnosing and treating ADHD. 

An ADHD diagnosis is a multiple-step process. In diagnosing a child, we do the following:

• Conduct a clinical interview with your child
• Complete an in-depth interview with the parent(s) or caregivers
• Review your child’s medical history

We also gather the results of normed rating scales that you and others in your child’s world complete, including their teachers. 

The clinical interview with your child may take more than an hour, depending on the age of your child. If your child is old enough, they complete a self-rating scale as part of the interview. If not, we ask your child questions and observe their behavior on tasks during the interview. 

We review your child’s symptoms against the criteria in a diagnostic manual used in the medical profession: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-V). 

We use behavior rating scales specifically for ADHD as well as scales to check child behavior for anxiety, depression, or oppositional/conduct behavior disorders, as there can be comorbidity with an ADHD diagnosis. 

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, they have shown symptoms of the majority of those listed in the manual for inattention and/or hyperactivity for at least six months in at least two different settings, such as at home and at school. 

Inattentive vs. hyperactive ADHD

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type, it may answer your questions about your child’s behavior. The teacher may have noted that your child starts assignments but often doesn’t complete them. 

Perhaps they constantly lose homework assignments. When they’re supposed to be working on a task, they may lose focus and stare into space. 

If your child suffers from ADHD primarily hyperactive type, perhaps the teacher tells you they can’t sit still in class and they lose focus easily when working on an assignment. 

Your child may talk excessively and interrupt. They may blurt out answers in class without waiting to be called on. When situations call for your child to sit still, they constantly fidget and squirm. It may be hard for your child to clean up their room or keep track of schoolwork. 

Early diagnosis of ADHD improves long-term outcomes. ADHD is a condition your child can’t help on their own. Professional and parental support provide the anchors your child needs to achieve their full potential.

Call Nunn Psychiatric Care in Hodgenville, Kentucky, or request an appointment through our online portal today if you have concerns about your child’s behavior.