Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders

Documentation Guidelines for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders

Evaluator Qualifications

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is considered a medical or clinical diagnosis. Thus, individuals qualified to render a diagnosis for this disorder are diagnosticians who have been trained in the assessment of AD/HD and are experienced in assessing the needs of adult learners. Recommended practitioners may include psychiatrists, licensed clinical or educational psychologists, other qualified mental health professionals, neurologists, relevantly trained physicians, or a combination of such professionals.

Current Documentation

The documentation is considered current if the related evaluation was conducted no more than three years prior to the student’s request for accommodations.

Comprehensive Documentation

In order for the documentation to be considered comprehensive, it must:

1. Identify the Axis diagnosis of ADD/ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fourth Edition-TR (DSM-IV-TR); 
2. Provide thorough and discuss current problems associated with the diagnosis;
3. Contain relevant historical information that must address all of the following:
   • Evidence of early impairment
   • Family
   • Academic
   • Medical
   • Psychosocial
   • Employment;
4. Address the ruling out of alternative diagnoses or explanations;
5. List current medication, dosages, and existing (not possible) side effects;
6. Discuss functional limitations and symptoms caused by the disability as they pertain to the academic environment in which the student is requesting accommodations;
7. Include recommended accommodations explaining the need for each as it relates to the functional impact or limitations of the disability on learning or other major life activities.