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ADHD Assessment Tests
ADHD Assessment Tests By Mary Asomah...
Parents who are concerned with their child's behaviour or development need to consult professional health care providers
in order to obtain a reliable diagnosis in regards to any potential medical concern their child may or may not have.
In regards to an ADHD diagnosis, there are a number of essential ADHD assessments that the health care professional
needs to perform in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
ADHD Assessment Tests Regarding ADHD Symptoms
ADHD assessment tests will include written and oral testing that will conclude how many ADHD symptoms a child has,
and to what degree they have those symptoms.
The three major ADHD symptoms are Hyperactivity, Impulsivity and Inattentiveness.
When conducting ADHD assessments regarding the major ADHD symptoms, a health care professional will not only interview
the child, but will also interview parents, teachers and other adults who have close contact with the child.
A Behaviour Ratings Scale is often used to help identify the child's typical behaviours in a variety of settings,
such as at home and at school.
The Health care professional will not only take into account the child's current behaviour, but will also examine
the child's medical history, reviewing the child's mental, emotional, and physical health.
ADHD assessments look at the degree of which a child portrays certain behaviour characteristics. Behaviour
characteristics which are considered ADHD are considered extreme.
They typically appear before a child reaches age 7 and have been present for years. Typical ADHD behaviour can not be
explained away by personal situations, such as a new baby in the home, a recent move or a divorce.
ADHD Assessment For Other Medical Conditions
It is very important for ADHD assessments to include medical testing. Many ADHD type behaviours can actually be caused
by other medical conditions.
ADHD assessments should include vision and hearing testing, blood testing, lead testing and thyroid testing. Ruling
out any other medical condition can give a more accurate diagnosis.
ADHD Assessment for Other Medical Disorders
Some ADHD behaviours can actually mimic the symptoms of other disorders. If not examined closely a child may be
misdiagnosed with ADHD when in fact they could be suffering from another disorder.
Sometimes a child with ADHD will have an additional co-existing disorder. ADHD assessments take this fact into
consideration, and assess a child for disorders commonly known to co-exist with ADHD, such as autism, depression, anxiety
disorder and bipolar disorder.
ADHD Assessment that Consider Learning Disabilities
ADHD assessment testing also includes testing for learning disabilities. Some learning disabilities, such as dyslexia
can produce behaviour symptoms which can mimic ADHD symptoms.
ADHD children often have additional learning disabilities. A proper diagnosis for a child will make parents aware of
all of the challenges their child faces, so that the best possible treatment can be provided.
