If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she will
likely be under the care of a team of health professionals. These
professionals should have extensive experience treating ADHD, and
should communicate with each other (and with you) on a regular
basis about your child's care.
The diagnosis of ADHD will probably be made by a pediatric
psychologist or doctor--a pediatrician, psychiatrist, or
neurologist (a specialist in diseases of the nervous system). Other
members of the team might include nurses, nurse practitioners,
physician assistants, social workers, and other therapists
(counselors, family therapists, etc.)
If your child needs medicine, the prescription will be written
by the doctor or nurse practitioner. The diagnostic process also
should rule out any other disorders that might look like ADHD.
For a diagnosis of ADHD in adults, the clinician will need a
history of the adult's behavior as a child. The clinician
might also interview the patient's spouse/partner, parents,
and friends, and look at the person's past records, including
report cards, transcripts, etc., to determine if this behavior has
been going on for a long time. The clinician might also use
psychological tests to determine if the person has any learning
weaknesses that might be causing the disorder.