Create a 7 page essay paper that discusses ADHD assessment.Download file to see previous pages... There could be very subtle differences between children afflicted with the condition and their normal

Create a 7 page essay paper that discusses ADHD assessment.

There could be very subtle differences between children afflicted with the condition and their normal peers. However, in an ordinary setting, children with ADHD are excessively inattentive and distracted easily. In addition, children with the disorder demonstrate heightened levels of restlessness and are liable to making rash mistakes (DuPaul and Stoner 2003).Generally, Abikoff, et al (1977: p105) noted that children suffering from ADHD have “deficits compared to others of similar age”. The deficits are manifested while undertaking and completing tasks involving control of impulses and activity level modulation. ADHD persists into adolescence and the adulthood stages. Affected adults and adolescents demonstrate malfunctioning of various domains, including difficulties in establishing and maintaining relationships, poor achievement among other behaviors. Polancyzk, et al (2007) noted that adolescents and adults afflicted with ADHD demonstrate unusual behaviors in relationships with friends and siblings, including arrogance, intrusiveness, and unwarranted aggression. This paper examines various tests of assessing ADHD applied in contemporary clinical setting. According to NIHCE (2009), the presence of excessive activity, lack of attention and other impulsive behaviors do not necessarily confirm the presence of ADHD in an individual. Normal people demonstrate some of these behaviors under certain circumstances, but that does not imply that they suffer from the condition. Barkley (1990:59) argues that there is “no single perfect biological or psychological assessment of ADHD”. According to NIHCE (2009), diagnosis of the disorder is made from a number of examinations and investigations aimed at determining five aspects. These include the degree and seriousness of the major symptoms associated with the ADHD disorder and the nature of the symptoms when investigated in diverse circumstances (NIHCE, 2009). The third aspect that assessments seek to establish is the source(s) and developmental pathway of the observed symptoms. Fourthly, the assessments determine if any symptoms demonstrated by the individual compares with other people of similar developmental stage. Finally, the tests are used to establish the availability of other physical, mental health and learning disorders. For these reasons, NIHCE (2009) argues that effective assessment of ADHD requires a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach that involves professional from various fields, including medical, psychological, mental and sociological among others (NIHCE 2009, p24-29). Several approaches are used in the assessment of ADHD. Some of the tests include clinical interviews, standardized rating scales, medical assessment, educational, and occupational adjustments in addition to psychological and psychometric assessments (AACAPWGQI, 1997). Qualified medical professionals such as pediatricians, clinical psychologists and other specialized medical practitioners in the related fields usually administer clinical interviews. The formats of the interviews are strategically semi- structured in order to elucidate and examine pertinent issues. However, some fully structured interviewing tools such as Diagnostic interview schedule for children (DISC), Diagnostic interview scale for adults and diagnostic interview for DSM-IV are sometimes applied in clinical assessment of ADHD (NIHCE, 2009). However, the fully structured interviewing instruments take long time and are not flexible enough. These shortcomings undermine their widespread application in medical practice in examining ADHD (Marsh and Terdal 1997).