ADHD affects 5% of children and can also affect adults. An ADHD checklist is used by doctors to diagnose behavior problems in children and adults. The checklist focuses on behavior and is completed by parents and teachers. Medication may be prescribed after diagnosis, but other diagnoses may be made based on the checklist. It is important to discuss concerns with a doctor and never take medication not prescribed for you.
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neural-behavioral development disorder that affects about 5% of children aged seven to adolescence, but can also affect adults. Many children are first diagnosed with ADHD around the time they start school. For a doctor to prescribe medications to treat ADHD symptoms, they often require the child’s parent and the child’s teacher to complete an ADHD checklist. An ADHD checklist is a series of actions and behavioral responses compiled in a list format. Just like a symptom checklist for any condition, a doctor can evaluate a comprehensive ADHD checklist to help them better diagnose a behavior problem in a child.
Although many people debate the validity of ADD (attention deficit disorder) and a diagnosis of ADHD, many parents of children diagnosed with both know the reality of their child’s day-to-day struggles. For undiagnosed children whose teachers, parents, and caregivers suspect behavioral developmental delay, an ADHD checklist will help them and their child’s doctor narrow down the causes behind their actions. A doctor typically won’t prescribe medications to treat symptoms of ADD or ADHD without first reviewing parents’ and even teacher’s responses to questions on that list.
The questions on an ADHD checklist focus primarily on behavior. Statements such as “has difficulty staying on task” or “has difficulty organizing objects, tasks, or activities” and “loses things needed to complete tasks (such as pencils, homework, books, toys, etc.) are examples of ADHD checklist questions. The individual assessing the child reads each statement/question and then designates a comparable response on a scale of 1 to 5. For example, they may choose ‘never’, ‘sometimes’, ‘often’ or ‘always’. The exact wording of each statement/question and the scaled answers available will vary slightly depending on the ADHD checklist, but ultimately the same information can be gleaned from any. Similar questions are compiled in an ADHD checklist for adults.
After a doctor has gone through your checklist or evaluation form, they will make a diagnosis. If your doctor agrees that the problem is ADD or ADHD, she will discuss various forms of medication to treat your symptoms. Some ADD/ADHD medications are federally controlled and will require routine follow-up visits with your doctor for continued prescriptions. If one drug fails to relieve your symptoms, your doctor may try another form.
In some cases, a doctor may make an entirely different diagnosis based on your answers to the ADHD checklist questions. It may also suggest further evaluation by a psychologist or other professional before a diagnosis of behavioral or developmental delay is made. If you suspect that you or your child has a behavioral disorder such as ADHD, you can search online checklists or request an evaluation from your doctor to help evaluate yourself or your child. However, be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor and never take any medications that haven’t been specifically prescribed for you.
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