Have you ever wondered how an ADHD scale works? How exactly do mental health professionals determine if your child or adolescent has ADHD? But most importantly, how much can we rely on modern medicine’s evaluation tools?
As a concerned parent, you’ve probably asked yourself these questions countless times. And considering that most of us are probably unfamiliar with the inner-workings of psychological testing and the intricacies of clinical evaluation, MedicalNewsToday.com has recently released a post on how ADHD is rated.
What does an ADHD scale measure?
In broad lines, an ADHD scale determines if your kid or adolescent has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by spotting symptoms specific to this condition and how they interfere with your child’s day-to-day life. In other words, a thorough evaluation reveals the whens, the wheres, and the hows of ADHD.
By covering personal, social, and educational aspects associated with this condition, an ADHD scale paves the way for a successful intervention. Based on the results, healthcare professionals can determine if your child has this condition and design a personalized intervention plan.
Who gets tested?
Since the child is the one who might be dealing with ADHD, most of us believe the evaluation procedure addresses only the person in question.
But to gain a better understanding of the child’s condition, mental health professionals need as much info as possible. That’s why most ADHD tests are designed to include answer sheets for parents, caregivers, teachers, and other significant figures.
Why do mental health professional need tests?
Unlike many physical conditions which have observable and measurable symptoms, mental conditions are trickier to diagnose.
For example, the fact that your child is restless – which is a symptom of ADHD – doesn’t necessarily mean he/she has ADHD. To have a definitive diagnosis, we need to look at the cause of his/her restlessness and the context in which this symptom manifests.
By using standardized, scientifically validated tests, healthcare professionals gain an unbiased overview of the child’s condition.
The use of a standardized ADHD scale such as CBRS or NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale guarantees an objective evaluation which will pave the way for personalized interventions.
To learn more about ADHD, click here.
