診斷和症狀-過度活躍症(注意力不足過動症 / ADHD)

GPs cannot formally diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you for specialist assessment if necessary. Your school can also arrange specialist referrals for your child.

When you visit your GP they may ask you:

  • About your or your child’s symptoms
  • when these symptoms begin
  • Where symptoms occur – for example at home, school, college or university or the workplace
  • Do the symptoms affect you or your child's daily life - for example, do they make social interaction difficult
  • If there have been any recent significant events in your or your children's lives, such as the death of a family member or divorce
  • If you have a family history of ADHD
  • About any other problems or symptoms of different health conditions you or your child may have

children and teenagers

If your GP thinks your child may have ADHD, they may first recommend a period of "watchful waiting". – For about 10 weeks – to see if your child’s symptoms improve, stay the same, or get worse.

They may also recommend starting a group-based, ADHD-focused parent training or education program. Undergoing a parent training and education program does not mean you are a bad parent—it is designed to teach you ways to help yourself and your children.

If your child's behavior does not improve and you and the GP agree that it is affecting their daily life, the GP should refer you and your child to a specialist for a formal assessment.

adult

For adults who may have ADHD, your GP will assess your symptoms and may refer you for assessment if:

  • You were not diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but your symptoms began in childhood and have persisted ever since
  • Your symptoms cannot be explained by a mental health condition
  • Your symptoms can seriously affect your daily life - for example, if you don't perform well at work or find intimacy difficult

You may also be referred to a specialist if you had ADHD as a child or adolescent and your symptoms now cause moderate or severe functional impairment.

Evaluate

You or your child may be referred to one of the following types of specialists for a formal evaluation:

  • Child or adult specialist psychiatrist
  • Pediatrician - child health specialist
  • An appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD

Who you are referred to will depend on your age and what services are available in your local area.

There is no simple test that can determine whether you or your child has ADHD, but your specialist can make an accurate diagnosis after a detailed evaluation. Assessment may include:

  • A physical exam, which can help rule out other possible causes of symptoms
  • a series of interviews with you or your children
  • Interviews or reports from significant others such as partners, parents and teachers

Diagnosis of children and adolescents

The diagnosis of ADHD in children depends on a strict set of criteria. To be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must have 6 or more symptoms of inattention or 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity.

To be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must also have:

  • Have symptoms continuously for at least 6 months
  • Symptoms begin before age 12
  • Show symptoms in at least 2 different settings - for example, at home and at school, to rule out the possibility that the behavior is simply a response to some teacher or parent control
  • Symptoms that make their life more difficult on a social, academic or professional level
  • Symptoms are not only part of a developmental disorder or difficult stage, but are not better explained by another disorder

adult diagnosis

Diagnosing ADHD in adults is more difficult because there is some disagreement about whether the list of symptoms used to diagnose children and adolescents also applies to adults.

In some cases, an adult may be diagnosed with ADHD if they have 5 or more of the inattention symptoms, or 5 or more of the hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms listed in the Children's Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD.

As part of the evaluation, the specialist will ask you about your current symptoms. However, according to current diagnostic guidelines, adult ADHD cannot be diagnosed unless your symptoms have been present since childhood.

If you find it difficult to remember whether you had problems as a child, your specialist may want to review your old school records or talk to your parents, teachers, or anyone who knew you well when you were a child.

For adults diagnosed with ADHD, their symptoms should also have a moderate impact on different areas of their lives, such as:

  • Poor performance at work or education
  • dangerous driving
  • Difficulty making or keeping friends
  • Difficulties with your relationship with your partner

You are not considered to have ADHD if your problems are recent and have not occurred frequently in the past. This is because it is currently thought unlikely that ADHD will first appear in adults.

Self-examination symptoms

1. People say you are forgetful

Everyone forgets to misplace their car keys or jacket once in a while. But this happens a lot when you have ADHD. You probably spend time every day searching for your glasses, wallet, cell phone, and other items. You may also forget to return a call, pay a bill, or show up for a medical appointment.

2. People complain and you don’t listen.

It's normal for most of us to occasionally lose focus when people are talking, especially when there are distractions such as a nearby television or something else grabbing our attention. This happens often, especially with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), even when there are no distractions around. But ADHD is about more than that.

3.You are often late

Managing your time and schedule is a constant challenge when you have ADHD. It often results in missed deadlines or appointments unless you work hard to avoid it.

4. You have trouble concentrating

One of the hallmarks of ADHD is problems with concentration, especially when concentrating or paying attention to details for long periods of time. Depression, Anxiety, and Addictive Disorders Can Take a Harm on You Many people with ADHD have one or more of these problems. Your doctor can ask you questions to find out what's causing your attention problems.

5. You leave things unfinished

Concentration and memory problems can make it difficult to start or complete projects, especially ones that you know require concentration to complete. This symptom may also indicate depression.

6. You had behavioral problems as a child

You need to have attention problems or other symptoms of ADHD as a child in order to be diagnosed as an adult—even if these early symptoms haven't been formally diagnosed yet.

As a child, people may have accused you of being lazy. Or they may think you have another condition, such as depression or anxiety.

If you were diagnosed with this disease as a child, you may still have it. Symptoms change as we age, but most people do not go away with age.

7. You lack impulse control

It’s not just about tossing a lollipop into your shopping cart at the checkout. This is doing things even if you know there may be serious consequences, such as running a red light because you think you can get away with it, or being unable to stay quiet when you have something to say even though you know you should stay silent.

8. You can’t organize

You may notice this more at work. You may have trouble deciding what's most important, completing tasks and completing work on time.

9. You are restless

Children with ADHD are often hyperactive, but adults are more likely to be irritable or restless. You may also talk too much and interrupt others.

10. You can’t control your emotions

You may be moody or irritable, express frustration frequently, feel unmotivated, or get angry easily. ADHD can make it difficult to control bad emotions or behave well when you're upset.

Review

All comments are moderated before being published

HealthyPIG Magazine

View all
無人機醫療配送:低空經濟下的香港新契機

無人機醫療配送:低空經濟下的香港新契機

  無人機醫療配送:低空經濟下的香港新契機 —— 從健康、醫療金融到商業模式的全球比較與啟示 在香港「低空經濟」監管沙盒下,無人機由數碼港跨海至長洲醫院,約 12 公里航線僅需 18–20 分鐘,相比傳統 45–65 分鐘大幅提速。本文聚焦醫療價值、醫療金融回報與商...
醫管局普通科門診改名「家庭醫學門診」——香港基層醫療新里程?

醫管局普通科門診改名「家庭醫學門診」——香港基層醫療新里程?

  基層醫療 家庭醫學 健康政策 醫管局普通科門診改名「家庭醫學門診」:利與弊、國際比較與香港基層醫療的下一步 醫務衞生局宣佈由 2025 年 10 月 11 日起,將「普通科門診」與「家庭醫學專科門診」統一命名為「家庭醫學門診服務」,74 間普通科門診...
基孔肯雅熱:被伊蚊叮咬後的劇痛病毒 — 病毒、傳播、症狀與防治全解析

基孔肯雅熱:被伊蚊叮咬後的劇痛病毒 — 病毒、傳播、症狀與防治全解析

什麼是基孔肯雅熱? 基孔肯雅熱(Chikungunya Fever)是一種由**基孔肯雅病毒(Chikungunya virus, CHIKV)**引起的急性傳染病,屬於 Togaviridae 家族 Alphavirus 屬。這種病毒最早於 1952 年在坦桑尼亞被發現,其名稱來自當地馬孔德...
登革熱:全球爆發中的熱帶威脅與防護全解析

登革熱:全球爆發中的熱帶威脅與防護全解析

登革熱係乜嘢? 登革熱(Dengue fever)係一種由登革熱病毒(Dengue virus)引起嘅急性傳染病,主要經由伊蚊(Aedes mosquito)叮咬傳播,特別係白紋伊蚊(Aedes albopictus)同埃及伊蚊(Aedes aegypti)。呢啲蚊喺日間最活躍,因此唔似瘧疾嗰...
流感點樣會引致腦病變、心肌炎同休克?——從「感冒」變成致命風暴

流感點樣會引致腦病變、心肌炎同休克?——從「感冒」變成致命風暴

近排有新聞報導,一名原本健康嘅中學生感染乙型流感(Influenza B)之後,出現腦病變、心肌炎同休克,情況危殆。好多家長都會問:「流感唔就係普通感冒?點解可以嚴重到影響腦同心臟?」其實,流感背後嘅機制比我哋想像中複雜得多。 一、流感病毒唔止攻擊呼吸道 流感病毒(包括甲型同乙型)主要透過飛...
牛骨湯食譜大全|Instant Pot 壓力煲 & 傳統老火湯版本

牛骨湯食譜大全|Instant Pot 壓力煲 & 傳統老火湯版本

牛骨湯食譜係香港家庭常見嘅煲湯之一,牛骨湯香濃滋補,配合中藥材更具養生功效。本文介紹肉骨類選擇、牛骨湯建議配搭、常見中藥材分類,以及Instant Pot壓力煲與傳統老火湯版本食譜,並引用科學研究支持。
澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南)

澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南)

澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南) 澳洲飲用水發現「食腦變形蟲」:全球風險與地區對策(含各國/各州實用指南) 重點:事件本身不代表飲水會感染;主要風險來自水經鼻腔進入。 目錄 ...
如何判斷雞翅是否變壞?

如何判斷雞翅是否變壞?

重點摘要 雞翅會變質嗎? 如何判斷雞翅是否變壞? 過期雞翅還能食嗎? 雞翅可存放多久? 如何儲存雞翅? 雞翅可以冷凍嗎? 結論 雞翅會變質嗎? 會。皮脂較多、表面不潔或溫度過高時,細菌繁殖更快。 如何判斷雞翅是否變壞? 外觀:皮色發黃、出黑斑或血水。 觸感:表面黏滑、軟爛。 氣...
如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞?

如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞?

重點摘要 雞蛋會變質嗎? 如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞? 過期雞蛋還能食嗎? 雞蛋可存放多久? 如何儲存雞蛋? 雞蛋可以冷凍嗎? 結論 雞蛋會變質嗎? 會。殼面有微孔,溫差及濕度變化會令細菌入侵。 如何判斷雞蛋是否變壞? 水測:沉底=較新鮮;浮起=多半變壞。 打開觀察:蛋白渾濁水樣、蛋黃...