How to find if you have ADHD?
Screening for adult ADHD
There is no one test that can tell you if you have ADHD, but if you suspect you might have ADHD, I recommend taking the Adult ADHD Self-Report Screener (ASRS V1.1) as your first step. This WHO test is used in primary healthcare to screen for potential ADHD.
You can take the test online here: psychology-tools.com/test/adult-adhd-self-report-scale
The test is excellent at screening out people who do not have (98% accurate) and is good at screening people who might have ADHD (about 50 to 70% accurate). If the test says your answers indicate possible ADHD, then the next step is a clinical diagnosis.
Who can diagnose ADHD?
International guidelines recommend that the diagnosis be done by “an appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD”. Ideally, this would be a psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD, although it could be a general medical practitioner who has as training and experience working with adults with ADHD.
It is important to note that for a clinical diagnosis of ADHD, the healthcare professional needs to consider other both psychiatric and physical conditions that could explain better your symptoms.
What to expect from an ADHD diagnosis
The National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the diagnosis of ADHD state: A diagnosis of ADHD should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician, or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD, based on:
- a full clinical and psychosocial assessment of the person; this should include discussion about behaviour and symptoms in the different domains and settings of the person’s everyday life and
- a full developmental and psychiatric history and
- observer reports and assessment of the person’s mental state.
It goes on to say that a diagnosis of ADHD should not be made solely based on rating scales or observational data. However, rating scales are valuable adjuncts, and observations are useful when there is doubt about symptoms.
Importantly, note that brain scans and neuropsychological tests not included in diagnostic guidelines.
For a diagnosis of ADHD, symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity should:
- meet the diagnostic criteria in DSM‑5 or ICD‑11 (hyperkinetic disorder)
- and cause at least moderate psychological, social and/or educational or occupational impairment based on interview and/or direct observation in multiple settings and
- be pervasive, occurring in two or more important settings including social, familial, educational and/or occupational settings.
The diagnostic process, should include an assessment of the person’s needs, coexisting conditions, social, familial and educational or occupational circumstances and physical health.
ADHD should be considered in all age groups, with symptom criteria adjusted for age-appropriate changes in behaviour.
