An accurate diagnosis will ensure a clearer understanding of the nature of the difficulties being experienced and/or observed. From this understanding individualized solutions can be found.

Too often a diagnosis of ADHD is made without taking the time and putting in the energy to gather all the necessary information to make an accurate diagnosis. Many of the symptoms of ADHD are shared with other mental disorders. However, the solutions to correcting these symptoms may be very different depending on the diagnosis. In addition, approximately 80% of individuals diagnoses with ADHD have another coexisting psychiatric disorder that requires professional attention and unique solutions.

Often ADHD leads to problems with peer relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, and academic and/or work underperformance. A comprehensive evaluation will answer why an individual is struggling in these areas which are the crucial first step to finding the right solutions.

Finally, a good comprehensive evaluation does not only seek to find the type and degree of impairment an individual may be having, it also identify a person’s strengths. Ultimately, success depends on discovering ways to work around and compensate for relative weaknesses in an individual and capitalize on their strengths.

Coexisting and Associated Psychiatric Disorders

The following is a list of possible psychiatric disorders that could coexist with ADHD or could be responsible for the symptoms also frequently associated with ADHD:

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Learning Disability
• Anxiety Disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, etc.)
• Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS)
• Thought Disorders