How is ADHD Assessed?

Rating Scales

Because of the subjectivity of the clinical interview and the existence of such things as the doctor's office effect, professionals often use rating scales to obtain more objective, behavioral data.

As noted in the Case Connections box, Jamal's pediatrician used rating scales to help determine that Jamal was not ADHD. The rating scale he used, the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-Revised (S) (Conners, 1997), is one of the most commonly used standardized rating scales. As we noted earlier, Shannon's psychiatrist, Dr. Roodriguez, used an informal checklist, or rating form, based on the DSM criteria, to help in the diagnosis of Shannon's ADHD. But Dr. Rodriguez also requested that Shannon's teacher fill out one portion of the Conners' scale. (Recall that, according to the DSM, symptoms of ADHD should be observed in at least two settings.) The ratings on this scale were in agreement with those of the parents. Her teacher rated her as highly inattentive but not very hyperactive on this 28-item rating scale. (There is a longer version of this rating scale that contains 59 items.)

Using Technology to Assess ADHD

Although medical exams, clinical interviews, and rating scales will probably always be a necessary part of the identification of students with ADHD, researchers are turning to technology to find additional methods of assessing ADHD. For example, there are several commercial computerized versions of continuous performance tests (CPTs). CPTs vary somewhat. A typical one projects stimuli (e.g., Xs and Os) one at a time on a screen rapidly (about one per second), and the individual is instructed to push a button every time a particular stimulus (e.g., X) appears or a particular sequence (e.g., 0 followed by an X) appears. The computer keeps track of the number of correct responses, failures to respond to a correct stimulus (omission errors), and incorrect responses or responses to the wrong stimulus (commission errors).

It has now become relatively common for clinicians to use a computerized CPT to help evaluate children for ADHD. There are other technologies that hold potential for helping identify ADHD that are much more experimental.

Issues Related to Identification for Special Education Services

The overlap between learning disabilities and ADHD has created considerable controversy in the field. This controversy has made it difficult to keep track of how many students with ADHD are served in special education. Furthermore, it makes it difficult to keep track of such things as the gender and ethnicity of students identified as ADHD and receiving special education. This is unfortunate, because some have claimed that African American boys are disproportionately identified as ADHD.