A common perception is that ADHD is over-diagnosed. But is this actually true? Or is this belief a reaction to bias in the media? Or, are we actually seeing an increase in rates of appropriate ADHD diagnoses?
The answer to this is somewhat complex. Part of the reason this is even an issue is the fact that ADHD can't be diagnosed with something definitive like a blood test or brain scan. Instead, it relies on a thorough assessment of symptoms on a continuum.
Why is an ADHD diagnosis important? Why do I need to go through a whole assessment process just to get a diagnosis?
When we've previously talked about why it's important to get a thorough ADHD assessment, we only talked about how important the assessment is aside from 'just' the diagnosis. But why is the diagnosis itself so important?
When testing for ADHD, we often get asked about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and how it might overlap with ADHD symptoms. When is it ADHD, OCD, or both?
In the article: Can Brain Scans Help Diagnose ADHD? the author explores an interesting debate. Some clinicians have been using neuroimaging techniques as part of an ADHD evaluation. But how effective are they? From what it sounds like, many proponents of brain scans know the results need to be taken into context. Many more recognize that neuroimaging techniques should not be a standalone diagnostic tool.
How old is too old for an ADHD assessment? Am I too old to get tested? The short answer is that you're never too old to get tested for ADHD - just as you're never too old for a fresh start!
After an ADHD diagnosis, particularly as an adult, there are several common emotional reactions that you might experience. We've talked before about the eagerness that many individuals experience post-diagnosis to move forward as quickly as possible, but there are other more complex reactions, such as:
