Adults commonly have problems with getting an ADD/ADHD diagnosis. Many practitioners are hesitant to prescribe ADHD medication in adulthood. Thus, the need for comprehensive evaluation. By the way, there are other treatments besides medication. This includes education, behavioral/environmental interventions, and nutrition.
I have a saying “in children, ADD/ADHD is probably overdiagnosed; but in adulthood, it’s under-diagnosed.”
Common symptoms in adulthood usually have more attentiveness and short-term memory problems. Often this affects college and careers.
Interestingly, many ADHD children who are hyperactive become more distractible in adulthood. I do not observe many adults “running around their office.”
In preschool-age children, symptoms may be hard to identify. Normal behavior in young children periodically includes all of the major symptoms.
ADHD is distinguished from normal behavior by the severity and consistency of symptoms. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 usually show more obvious signs of ADHD than other age groups. School expectations can make symptoms more noticeable. For some children, school is the first setting where academic performance and socialization abilities are assessed. However, it often is more difficult to detect ADHD when inattention is the primary symptom and the child is otherwise well-behaved.
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A qEEG is a diagnostic procedure that is noninvasive and has no radiation. The qEEG is not always used in evaluations. Other types of EEG's are used to diagnose seizure disorders and use light stimulation as part of the procedure. At times, doctors even induce hyperventilation. The qEEG does not use these techniques that stress the brain.
Quantitative EEG can play an important role in the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity and Learning Disorders. Children with Learning Disorders (LD) or a mix LD and ADD/ADHD are often identified by these scans, thus helping and refining psychological (Cognitive/Behavioral) and medication therapies. EEG slowing is the most common abnormal finding, and the nature of the QEEG abnormality may be related to future academic performance.
QEEG shows high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing normal children and children with learning disorders and attention disorders from each other and may provide useful information for determining the likelihood that children with attention problems will respond to treatment with stimulant medication.
This is not intended to address clinical issues or emergencies. If this is an emergency please call 911. Please call my office at 573-445-3903 for other matters. Dr Kline usually responds to email within 24 hours.