Not everyone who is overly hyperactive,
inattentive, or impulsive has ADHD. Since most people sometimes blurt out things
they didn't mean to say, or jump from one task to another, or become
disorganized and forgetful, how can specialists tell if the problem is ADHD?
Because everyone shows some of these behaviors at times, the diagnosis requires
that such behavior be demonstrated to a degree that is inappropriate for the
person's age. The diagnostic guidelines also contain specific requirements for
determining when the symptoms indicate ADHD. The behaviors must appear early in
life, before age 7, and continue for at least 6 months. Above all, the behaviors
must create a real handicap in at least two areas of a person's life such as in
the schoolroom, on the playground, at home, in the community, or in social
settings. So someone who shows some symptoms but whose schoolwork or friendships
are not impaired by these behaviors would not be diagnosed with ADHD. Nor would
a child who seems overly active on the playground but functions well elsewhere
receive an ADHD diagnosis.
To assess whether a child has ADHD, specialists consider several critical
questions: Are these behaviors excessive, long-term, and pervasive? That is, do
they occur more often than in other children the same age? Are they a continuous
problem, not just a response to a temporary situation? Do the behaviors occur in
several settings or only in one specific place like the playground or in the
schoolroom? The person's pattern of behavior is compared against a set of
criteria and characteristics of the disorder as listed in the DSM-IV-TR.
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