Medical history for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

The medical history can provide information about whether problem behavior is caused by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or another condition. A medical history includes the following:

Birth history

• The mother's general health during pregnancy, including any exposure to infection and whether she drank alcohol, smoked, or used drugs
• Delivery and birth: how a child was delivered, any problems that developed, birth weight, and general health of the baby when born

General health history

• Any significant or serious illnesses or injuries
• Any diagnosed medical or emotional conditions
• General development, such as when sitting, crawling, and walking began
• Any speech problems, such as difficulty talking or trouble understanding the meaning of words
• Any hearing difficulties, and the results of any hearing tests
• Sleeping habits, such as the daily average amount of sleep, and at what age naps were no longer needed
• Whether the child is right- or left-handed
• Food preferences, including any unusual cravings for substances that are not food (pica)
• Whether the child has complete bladder and bowel control

Behavior

• Temperament and general personality: whether or not the child was an irritable and demanding baby or a sad, anxious, or frustrated child
• Whether the child has temper tantrums
• Detailed descriptions of problem behaviors, including when the behaviors were first noticed, when they are most likely to occur (home or school), and what has been done to stop them
• How the child's behavior compares to other children his or her age
• What kind of relationships the child has with peers and family members

School performance

• The name and type of school, grade level, and progress reports from the child's teachers
• Scores on standardized achievement tests given in school
• Legibility of handwriting
• Consistency in completing and turning in homework and tests
• Friendships and general relationships with peers
• Involvement in hobbies, sports, and other group activities

Information about the family history

• Parents' occupations and education
• Parents' history of learning or behavior problems
• Any suspicion or evidence of either parent having ADHD
• Presence of any emotional illnesses, alcohol or drug abuse, or criminal behavior in the immediate family (mother, father, siblings)