Diagnosing an adult with ADHD can present more of a challenge for doctors compared to when they’re working with a child. Because of this doctors tend to may use a combination of methods and assessment tools to diagnose adult ADHD, including using their judgement to assess exactly how negatively particular symptoms might be impacting someone’s day–to–day life.
But generally speaking, in order to make a diagnosis of adult ADHD, a doctor will have determined that:
- At least six ‘attention’ and/or hyperactive–impulsive symptoms are present, and have been for at least six months.
- Those same symptoms happen in at least two different settings – such as both at work and at home.
- There’s some recollection or evidence that ADHD symptoms were present before seven years of age.
- And that the symptoms can’t be explained by some other disorder or condition, such as anxiety or a mood disorder.
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