There are five DSM-IV Criteria required for the diagnosis.

• Symptom criteria must be met for 6 months.
• Some symptoms must be present before the age of 7 years.
• Some impairment from symptoms must be present in 2 or more settings .
• Symptoms lead to significant impairment in the context of social, academic or occupational functioning.
• Symptoms are not exclusively due to other medical, neurological or psychiatric disorder.

ADHD DSM-IV-TR CRITERIA HYPERACTIVITY/IMPULSIVITY SYMPTOMS
6 or more of the following manifested often:

HYPERACTIVITY SYMPTOMS

• Unable to stay seated.
• Inappropriate running, climbing. (adults have internal restlessness)
• Difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly.
• On the go.
• Talks excessively.
• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seats.

IMPULSIVITY SYMPTOMS

• Blurts out answers before questions finished.
• Difficulty awaiting turn.
• Interrupts or intrudes on others.

ADHD DSMIV-TR CRITERIA INATTENTIVE SYMPTOMS

6 or more of the following manifested often:

• Inattention to details, makes careless mistakes.
• Difficulty sustaining attention.
• Seems not to listen, fails to finish tasks.
• Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish school work, chores or duties in the workplace.
• Difficulty organizing.
• Avoids tasks requiring sustained attention.
• Loses things.
• Easily distracted.
• Forgetful.

Reference: APA, DSM-IV-TR, 2000

Adult Scale:
A scale has been created to assist with the diagnosis of ADHD in the adult population. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Symptom Checklist was developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD.

Information on this rating scale and a copy of the ASRS can be found at this web address:www.med.nyu.edu/psych/assets/ adhdscreen18.pdf

ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is the commonest reason that a child would see a child psychiatrist. It affects 6-9% of school-aged children, and there is 70% persistence into adolescence. It is estimated that ADHD affects 4.4% of the adult population. At the Ontario Bilkey ADHD Clinics, Dr. Timothy Bilkey, a psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, has assessed over 2000 adolescents and adults for this condition.

Contact us today to setup your assessment.