Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the office

The evaluation of the child with ADHD can be a complex and time-consuming process. Because there are no specific diagnostic tests, the physician must rely on the old standard of history and observation. An approach to diagnosis has been outlined in this article, which views ADHD as one of many clinical expressions of a more generalized impairment of neurologic processing. This approach suggest that four separate areas should be investigated: family and medical history, behavior, cognition, and coordination, while searching for signs of impairment in each area. This can provide a framework for the private practitioner to effectively and efficiently evaluate a child for ADHD within a busy office practice.