ADHD is usually diagnosed by specialists who assess the child with forms, visually, and discussions with parents or teachers. This is a slow, expensive process. However, professional online assessments are now available that are fast, cheap and trustworthy.
Diagnosis by specialists is not easy. Even if behaviour seems like ADHD, it might not be. It may be due to a family death, divorce, insufficient sleep or child abuse. Discernment for a doctor’s diagnosis is difficult. But new thinking may help…
A new therapy, with ethics approval from UK’s Institute of Education, by “ADHD Tri Plan” does not need a diagnosis of the root cause. Instead, parents are taught therapy skills online “to relieve ADHD-type symptoms, regardless of the cause”.
(Important repeat: symptoms can be alleviated regardless of the cause.)
The hypothesis that diagnosis of root cause is not needed to alleviate ADD and ADHD-type symptoms was researched via University of London. (Shades: Study of Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Using Energy Systems, Sweeney and Goble, IJHC, 2006 – Ref 1). It was found that, if symptoms were tested positive by forms with accepted diagnostic criteria, therapy could then relieve those symptoms.
The fact that ADD and ADHD type symptoms can be alleviated regardless of the cause means that if doctors are unsure of the cause, they can just assess for potential ADD or ADHD symptoms. Tests can be achieved quickly and simply online – free of cost!
Online ADD and ADHD symptom tests are free and fast - doctors or parents or adults with ADD or ADHD can choose free online DSM-1V – and Connors – tests.
1. DSM-IV assessment (free) – 87% diagnostic accuracy
DSM-1V is a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM has attracted praise for its ability to diagnose conditions with a high degree of accuracy. In the case of ADD and ADHD, accuracy is 87% (Rohde 1999 – Ref 2; and Siddom & Lancaster, 2004 – Ref 3).
2. Conners assessment – 85% diagnostic accuracy
Using Connors to discriminate between ADHD and normal children, 85 percent of children were correctly classified, supporting the validity of the scale and indicating excellent clinical utility. (Conners et al 1998 – Ref 4)
Two assessments give higher percentage chance of successful diagnosis
It was also shown by Rohde, 1999, that two assessments give a higher percentage chance of successful diagnosis. Using DSM and parents exclusively as the information source, 87% of the ADHD cases were detected. However, based on parents' or adolescents' combined reports, 100% of the ADHD adolescents were identified.
Imagine…
So, imagine if children could be assessed by two different criteria, DSM-1V (87% accuracy) AND Conners (85% accuracy). It is likely that most patients will be diagnosed correctly.
Both forms are NOW available online.
Some respected organizations, such as ‘ADHD Tri Plan’, ‘ETS.org’ and ‘Foundation for Medical Practice Education’ provide DSM-1V online. ‘ADHD Tri Plan’ offers free DSM-1V assessment to everyone. If ADD or ADHD is confirmed, patients can purchase a relatively cheap and significantly effective ADD and ADHD therapy online (researched via the University of London) – and then get diagnostic confirmation with Conners at no extra cost.
Trustworthy results arrive in 24 hours.
So if almost 100% diagnostic accuracy of ADD or ADHD symptoms is needed, it can be achieved by using confidential online forms for both DSM-1V and Connors combined.
Why wait – after discounting other conditions, all future potential ADHD patients can be diagnosed online free of charge!
References:
1. Shades: Study of Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Using Energy Systems, Sweeney and Goble, IJHC, 20061.
2. http://jad.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/3/2/91 - accessed 28.12.2009
3. Siddons, Lancaster, An Overview of the Use of the Child Behaviour Checklist Within Australia, 2004, Acer Press
4. Conners CK, Sitarenios G, Parker JD, Epstein JN., Revision and restandardization of the Conners Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-R): factor structure, reliability, and criterion validity, J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1998 Aug;26(4):279-91. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
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