When can ADHD be diagnosed?

ADHD is typically diagnosed when a child is 7 or 8 years old, although symptoms may be present as early as ages 3 to 5. Girls are often identified later than boys. Bright children may not be diagnosed until later as they may compensate for their difficulties until schoolwork and life demands get more challenging. 

Early diagnosis and intervention are essential for the effective treatment of ADHD. Delayed diagnosis can result in worsening symptoms, co-occurring conditions, and functional impairment. However, accurate diagnosis can be challenging, as ADHD symptoms can overlap with symptoms of other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. A comprehensive evaluation is necessary to ensure an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. The evaluation may include a thorough medical and psychiatric history, physical exam, and assessment of symptoms and functional impairment in multiple settings. Parents and teachers can provide valuable information about a child's behavior and functioning in different settings, such as home and school.

How ADHD is diagnosed

Treatment success starts with the correct diagnosis. ADHD is a complicated disorder that is easily and frequently mistaken for other disorders. The wrong diagnosis leads to months of trial and error with inappropriate medications, intolerable side effects, worsening symptoms, poor performance in school or work, and loss of hope. The specialists at the KEGE Center for ADHD take the time to get the diagnosis right the first time which means faster results for you or your child.

Psychiatric evaluation

All new patients to the KEGE Center for ADHD start with a comprehensive 120-minute psychiatric evaluation with a board-certified psychiatric provider. During this evaluation, a primary diagnosis is made with a high degree of certainty. Additional assessment is conducted to determine the presence of any of the co-occurring conditions associated with ADHD, such as insomnia, mood disruption, anxiety, and others. Research suggests the presence of one or more co-occurring conditions in 70% of children and 47% of adults with diagnosed ADHD.

Your provider will:

• Conduct a 120-minute, face-to-face interview by video or in-person with you. For children, the interview includes the parents, the child and a review of teacher feedback.
• Actively listen to understand your concerns, presenting symptoms, and goals with treatment.
• Assess and rule out of medical causes of symptoms through laboratory testing or complete referrals to medical specialists when necessary.
• Provide thorough education of all treatment options including medication, non-medication alternatives, and behavioral therapy or coaching.
• Develop a personalized treatment plan for your child.
• Discuss what you should expect from the chosen treatment and what to do if things don’t go as planned.
• Schedule convenient follow-up appointments for medication management in-person or by video visit.

Many psychiatric practices have long wait times. Don’t wait weeks or months for an appointment for an evaluation. KEGE Center for ADHD can usually see you within one to two weeks. Get started now with a psychiatric evaluation.