FORMAL DIAGNOSIS

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Many of our clients do NOT seek to receive a diagnosis. It is often more effective to treat the unique characteristics which present themselves and avoid the negative effects of labeling and having a fixed mindset.

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On the other hand, it can be INCREDIBLY helpful to receive a diagnosis if it can help a couple reinterpret behaviors as a way of experiencing the world as opposed to a sign of bad intent.

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Informal Screening Assessments

In such cases where a diagnosis is desired, clients start by taking the following on-line screening assessments (not definitive tests):

 

ADHD/Attention Deficit Disorder Test (ARCH Profile on Psychology Today)

Scale of 0 to 100. Higher scores indicates higher ability to pay attention. Qualitative results given. Please print them out and share them with your therapist.

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PsychCentral On-line assessment

0-20     ADHD unlikely

20-39   Attention Deficit Disorder Possible

40+       Attention Deficit Disorder Likely

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Formal Assessment

When a formal diagnosis is requested and both partners agree that it will be helpful, we use a collaborative process and involve the non-ADHD partner in the process as long as this process can be handled in an emotionally safe way. This often helps build an understanding of what the diagnosis actually means.

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When performing a formal diagnosis, the steps include a review of:

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• DSM 5 ADHD criteria,
   

• history of past educational experiences,
   

• history of childhood development,
   

• recent occupational success and struggles,
   

• relationship history and functioning,
   

• information about medical conditions from a medical professional,
   

• review of other disorders frequently occur with ADHD (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder), or can mimic the symptoms of adult ADHD, and
   

• input from other family members such as a spouse.
   

If deemed necessary, formal assessment tools can be administered including:
 

• Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRSv1.1)​​

  • Therapist will review the questions with you in session

  • 18 item questionnaire
     

• Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) 

  • Therapist will review the questions with you in session

  • On-line administration is expected to be available in 2022. 

  • 8 scales of various lengths assessing ADHD
     

• Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV (BAARS-IV)​

  • 18 item scale adapted from a previous version designed for children​
     

• Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales​

  • 40-item scale​

  • Screens for and explores executive cognitive functioning associated with ADHD.

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OVERLAP OF ASD AND ADHD

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ADHD and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that frequently co-occur. Although twin studies suggest that there are shared genetic influences that lead to both, researchers have yet to find a clearly identifiable neurological reason for these to exist together.

 

Nonetheless, the overlap is significant. ADHD is present in 30–80% of individuals with ASD, and ASD is present in 20–50% of individuals with ADHD. The main areas of neurological overlap for ASD and ADHD are in the areas of attention processing, performance monitoring, face processing and sensory processing. Furthermore, people with ADHD and ASD are often considered to have a lack of concern or inability to react to emotions or feelings of others. Please talk to our therapist to help you explore the differences and make sure your condition is fully understood.