What do doctors look for when diagnosing ADHD?

Doctors diagnose ADHD by looking for persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, gathering history from multiple settings (home, school/work), using standardized rating scales, conducting interviews, and ruling out other conditions like anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities, often requiring symptoms to be present before age 12 and impacting daily functioning. The evaluation involves clinical interviews, questionnaires for parents/teachers/self, and sometimes cognitive tests to see how symptoms affect real-world performance.

What do doctors look for to diagnose ADHD?

These include a thorough diagnostic interview, information from independent sources such as the spouse or other family members, DSM-5 symptom checklists, standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD and other types of psychometric testing as deemed necessary by the clinician.

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 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 to say to a doctor to get an ADHD diagnosis?

To ask your doctor about ADHD, schedule a dedicated appointment, clearly state you suspect ADHD and want an evaluation, and come prepared with specific examples of how symptoms (inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity) impact your daily life, plus your medical history and any past reports. Be honest about all experiences, including trying other people's meds, and ask about next steps like referrals to specialists (psychologist/psychiatrist) and available tests, as diagnosis involves detailed assessments, not just one simple test. 

How is ADHD Diagnosed? A Guide to ADHD Testing and Evaluations | Dr. Jared DeFife

What is the 2 minute rule for ADHD?

The ADHD "2-Minute Rule" is a productivity hack where you do any task that takes two minutes or less immediately, preventing small things from piling up and becoming overwhelming. While great for momentum, it needs modification for ADHD; a related idea is the "2-Minute Launch," where you commit to starting a bigger task for just two minutes to overcome inertia, building momentum to continue, though you must watch for getting lost in "rabbit holes" or task switching issues common with ADHD. 

What not to say when getting diagnosed with ADHD?

4 Things Not to Say to Someone With ADHD (Plus, What to Say...

• 4 Things Not to Say to Someone With ADHD. Avoid saying these things to someone diagnosed with ADHD. ...
• 'Isn't Everyone a Little ADHD? ' ...
• 'That's Just Boys Being Boys' ...
• 'You Only Focus on What You Want To' ...
• 'Nobody Needs to Know You Have ADHD'

What is the 24 hour rule for ADHD?

The "24-hour rule" for ADHD is a self-management strategy to combat impulsivity by creating a mandatory waiting period (e.g., 24 hours) before making significant decisions or reacting emotionally, allowing time to calm emotions, objectively evaluate pros/cons, and prevent regretful snap choices, effective for impulse control in spending, relationships, and major life changes. It builds a buffer for reflection, helping shift from immediate feelings to more intentional, goal-aligned actions, though the exact time can vary. 

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 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 biggest indicator of ADHD?

Some people with ADHD have fewer symptoms as they age, but some adults continue to have major symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

What is the burnout cycle of ADHD?

The ADHD burnout cycle is a repeating pattern of intense productivity (often via hyperfocus), followed by a complete crash into mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion, leading to procrastination, guilt, and shutdown, only for the need to catch up to restart the cycle, driven by ADHD's core challenges like executive dysfunction and sensory overload. It's a push-pull between overdrive and collapse, making daily demands feel insurmountable and disrupting self-trust. 

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 I get proof of my ADHD diagnosis?

Diagnosis of ADHD

If you've shown signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since childhood, and daily tasks are difficult, your GP may refer you to an ADHD specialist for assessment. Before your assessment appointment, it may be helpful to write down examples of traits that you have.

How does ADHD impact sleep?

ADHD significantly disrupts sleep through racing thoughts, difficulty winding down (insomnia), and a delayed internal clock (circadian rhythm), making it hard to fall asleep; it also increases restless legs, leg movements, and can worsen breathing issues like sleep apnea, leading to poor quality, shorter, and less restorative rest, often worsened by ADHD medications. 

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 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 silent ADHD?

They might be living with Silent ADHD, also known as high-functioning ADHD —a condition that hides behind ambition, productivity, and achievement. These individuals seem perfectly organized on the outside but often battle scattered focus, racing thoughts, and emotional fatigue beneath the surface.

How many hours of sleep does ADHD need?

People with ADHD generally need the same amount of sleep as everyone else (7-9 hours for adults, 8-10 for teens), but often need more quality rest (sometimes 8.5-9.5+ hours) due to the brain working harder and facing unique challenges like racing thoughts and delayed sleep cycles, which makes achieving it harder and requires strict sleep hygiene and routines. 

What does an ADHD crash feel like?

Some children with ADHD experience a "crash" when their medication wears off, leading to emotional outbursts, extreme bursts of energy or unusual anger. Timing your child's doses, offering a healthy snack, encouraging downtime or a change in medication may help ease this rebound.

What upsets people with ADHD?

People with ADHD get annoyed by things that trigger their sensory sensitivities (loud chewing, bright lights), disrupt their focus (interruptions, slow walkers), invalidate their experience ("Just focus," "Everyone has it"), or highlight executive function struggles (unrealistic expectations for organization), leading to frustration, overwhelm, and irritability from perceived incompetence or criticism. 

How do I prove to my psychiatrist that I have ADHD?

A psychiatrist will diagnose ADHD based on one's history, a clinical interview, and standardized questionnaires. The first step is gathering information regarding their symptoms. They may also ask questions regarding the patient's past and family history of ADHD and other mental health diagnoses.

What makes someone with ADHD happy?

There is significant research that shows mindfulness and meditation improve mood and positive feelings. Moreover, meditation has been demonstrated to improve many symptoms of ADHD including focus, concentration and mood regulation. There are many strategies for increasing mindfulness.