Now 13-year-old Sopia was diagnosed with ADHD, her parents are wondering wether their 171/2-year-old son, Jason, might have ADHD as well. If Jason is diagnosed with ADHD, what's something that will be different about the diagnostic criteria used for Sopia and the criteria used for Jason?
One key difference in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD between Sopia and Jason would be the age of onset. According to the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, symptoms must have been present before the age of 12 in order for a diagnosis to be made. Since Jason is already 171/2 years old, the criteria used for Jason would likely take into account his symptoms and behaviors throughout childhood and adolescence, rather than just focusing on early childhood like in Sopia's case. Additionally, the assessment for Jason may also consider the impact of his symptoms on his academic and social functioning as an older adolescent, as opposed to focusing primarily on his behavior in a school setting like in Sopia's case.
