What are the key requirements for a diagnosis of ADHD?

Diagnosing ADHD requires meeting criteria from the DSM-5, including presenting a specific number (usually 5-6) of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms for at least six months, starting before age 12, and occurring in multiple settings (home, school, work) with significant negative impact, while ruling out other conditions like depression or learning disorders. A professional diagnosis involves clinical interviews, rating scales from multiple sources (parents, teachers, self), and ruling out medical issues through exams.

What are the requirements for an ADHD diagnosis?

An ADHD diagnosis requires meeting specific criteria from the DSM-5, including a minimum number of inattention/hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms (6+ for kids, 5+ for adults) present for at least six months, starting before age 12, occurring in multiple settings (home, school, work), causing significant impairment, and not being better explained by another condition, with a professional evaluation involving interviews, history review, and sometimes tests.
 

What are the 5 C's of ADHD?

The 5 Cs of ADHD, developed by Dr. Sharon Saline, offer a parenting framework to manage ADHD challenges by focusing on Self-Control, Compassion, Collaboration, Consistency, and Celebration to build competence, reduce stress, and foster positive family dynamics by meeting kids where they are and building on strengths.
 

What three things does a diagnosis of ADHD require?

Symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

They involve a person's ability to pay attention to things (being inattentive), having high energy levels (being hyperactive) and their ability to control their impulses (being impulsive).

What are the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD?

The DSM-5 criteria for ADHD involve a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, with symptoms present in multiple settings (home, school, work) and causing significant impairment, starting before age 12, and not better explained by another condition. Diagnosis requires at least six symptoms (or five for adults) from the Inattention or Hyperactive-Impulsive lists, fitting one of three presentations: Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, or Combined.
 

Can adults have ADHD? A psychiatrist explains the symptoms

What is the gold standard for diagnosing ADHD?

The gold standard for ADHD diagnosis isn't a single test but a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional using the DSM-5 criteria, involving detailed clinical interviews, symptom rating scales (like Vanderbilt), developmental history review, and ruling out other conditions through medical exams and potentially objective measures like CPTs (Continuous Performance Tests) for a full picture of impairment across settings.
 

What are the 4 F's of ADHD?

The "4 Fs of ADHD" refer to the Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fib response, a framework explaining how the ADHD brain, often overloaded by sensory input or perceived threats (like a difficult test), defaults to these ingrained survival reactions instead of rational thought, with Fibbing emerging as a complex self-preservation tactic to avoid shame or failure due to poor executive function. This helps reframe ADHD behaviors, like lying or lashing out, as neurological stress responses, not character flaws, according to ADDitude Magazine and Child Neurology Consultants of Austin. 

What is the 1 3 5 rule for ADHD?

The ADHD 1-3-5 Rule is a task management strategy for preventing overwhelm by focusing on one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks daily, providing structure and quick wins. It helps people with ADHD prioritize by limiting their daily list to nine items, ensuring focus on high-impact work while still tackling important but less demanding chores, making productivity feel achievable. 

How do doctors confirm you have ADHD?

Doctors diagnose ADHD through a comprehensive evaluation using standardized questionnaires, interviews with the person and informants (like parents or teachers), reviewing medical/school history, and sometimes cognitive tests, all based on DSM-5 criteria for symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity that impair functioning, ensuring symptoms were present before age 12. No single test exists, so they gather data from multiple sources to confirm the pattern and rule out other conditions.
 

What is the 30% rule in ADHD?

The ADHD "30% Rule" is a guideline suggesting that executive functioning (self-regulation, planning, impulse control) in individuals with ADHD develops about 30% slower than in neurotypical peers, meaning a younger developmental age. For example, a 12-year-old with ADHD might have the executive skills of a 9-year-old, helping parents and educators set realistic expectations and understand behavioral differences, not a lack of intelligence. This concept, popularized by Dr. Russell Barkley, is a helpful tool, not a strict law, to foster empathy and appropriate support.
 

What is the 20 minute rule for ADHD?

The 20-minute rule for ADHD is a strategy to start tasks by committing to work on them for just 20 minutes, overcoming procrastination and task paralysis, often leveraging momentum or the Pomodoro Technique. It works by making tasks feel less overwhelming, allowing you to focus for a short, manageable burst, and then either continuing if you're in flow or taking a planned break to reset. This helps manage time blindness and provides dopamine hits, making it easier to initiate and maintain focus on chores, studying, or other goals. 

What is the red flag of ADHD?

ADHD red flags involve persistent patterns of inattention (difficulty focusing, disorganization, losing things) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (fidgeting, excessive talking, interrupting, impatience, acting without thinking) that interfere with daily functioning, appearing in childhood and often continuing into adulthood, with signs like trouble with routines, poor time management, and emotional reactivity. These aren't just typical childhood behaviors but a consistent struggle to sit still, pay attention, or wait their turn, even in quiet settings.
 

What are the big 5 personality traits of ADHD?

The Five Factor Model personality trait Openness, but not any other FFM factor, is linked to neurocognitive profiles in ADHD. ADHD subjects showed higher Neuroticism and lower Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness than healthy controls.

What is the 10-3 rule for ADHD?

The 10-3 rule for ADHD is a time management strategy that involves working on a task with full focus for 10 minutes, then taking a short, structured 3-minute break (no distractions like social media) to reset, and then repeating the cycle to build momentum and make tasks less overwhelming for the ADHD brain. This technique leverages short bursts of intense concentration followed by brief mental rests to combat procrastination and maintain focus. 

What does an official ADHD diagnosis look like?

An official ADHD diagnosis involves a comprehensive clinical evaluation, not a single test, using criteria from the DSM-5, requiring symptoms like inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity to start before age 12, occur in multiple settings (home, school, work), and significantly impair daily functioning, with other conditions ruled out. The process includes in-depth interviews, behavior rating scales (checklists), gathering historical information (from family/teachers), and ruling out other issues like anxiety or learning disabilities.
 

What are 5 signs that you have ADHD?

Five common ADHD symptoms include inattention (like difficulty focusing or making careless mistakes), hyperactivity (fidgeting, restlessness, excessive talking), impulsivity (interrupting, acting without thinking), disorganization (trouble planning/prioritizing), and forgetfulness/losing things (losing items, forgetting tasks). These symptoms fall under inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, often causing significant challenges in daily life, school, or work.
 

What are three warning signs of ADHD?

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

• Inattention: Difficulty paying attention.
• Hyperactivity: Showing too much energy or moving and talking too much.
• Impulsivity: Acting without thinking or having difficulty with self-control.

How do you genuinely tell if you have ADHD?

You know for sure you have ADHD through a professional diagnosis, but signs include persistent inattention (disorganization, poor time management, difficulty focusing) and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity (restlessness, interrupting, big emotional reactions) that significantly impair multiple areas of your life (work, home, social) since childhood, not just occasional issues. A doctor or specialist uses interviews, rating scales, and developmental history to compare symptoms to DSM-5 criteria, ruling out other conditions for an accurate diagnosis. 

What does untreated ADHD look like?

Untreated ADHD looks like a life of chronic disorganization, missed deadlines, forgotten appointments, and unfinished projects, characterized by poor focus, impulsivity (blurting things out, snap decisions), restlessness, and intense mood swings or emotional outbursts. It often leads to secondary issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, strained relationships, and career struggles, as individuals feel overwhelmed and unable to manage time or tasks despite good intentions, a symptom often called "time blindness".
 

What is the 80 20 rule for ADHD?

The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) helps ADHD brains by focusing on the vital 20% of tasks that yield 80% of results, combating overwhelm and poor prioritization by highlighting high-impact actions, making it easier to identify what truly matters and tackle it first, leading to better productivity and less time wasted on unimportant details, with applications from decluttering to major projects. It's a strategy to direct limited focus and energy to goals, rather than getting lost in endless to-do lists. 

What calms people with ADHD?

To calm ADHD, use a mix of lifestyle changes, mindfulness, and structure: incorporate regular exercise, good sleep hygiene, and healthy routines; practice deep breathing, meditation, and yoga; break tasks into smaller steps with timers (like Pomodoro); minimize distractions by decluttering; and find soothing sensory input like music or petting animals, while seeking professional help for personalized strategies.
 

What is the 10 minute rule for ADHD?

Start by choosing a task — something you've been avoiding, something that feels too big, or just something on your daily to-do list. Set a timer for 10 minutes and work on that task with full focus, knowing that a break is just around the corner. When the timer goes off, take a 3-minute break to reset your brain.

What age is ADHD hardest?

ADHD challenges often peak during the transition to adulthood (late teens to 30s) due to increased responsibilities and complex executive function demands, though hyperactivity often lessens, while inattention can persist or worsen, especially without treatment. The teenage years (13-18) are also particularly hard, with rising academic/social pressure and hormonal changes exacerbating difficulties. However, each person's experience varies, and while some symptoms fade, others remain, requiring coping strategies. 

What is the 24-hour rule for ADHD?

The ADHD "24-Hour Rule" is a self-regulation strategy to combat impulsivity by waiting a full day before acting on big decisions, purchases, or strong emotional reactions, allowing time for clearer thinking and reflection to prevent regret. It helps create a pause between impulse and action, reducing snap judgments and fostering emotional regulation, with variations focusing on productivity by reviewing information within 24 hours to maintain momentum, though the main use is for managing impulsive choices and emotions.
 

Why do adults with ADHD lie?

Learned Coping Mechanisms

Compulsive lying often starts with small, seemingly harmless lies that develop as a coping mechanism. For many adults with ADHD, lying can become a survival tactic after years of feeling misunderstood or judged. It may become automatic to avoid conflict or consequences.