There is no singular test to diagnose for ADHD in children. Instead, diagnosis is formulated based on the history of the patient and a discussion of symptoms. A test battery may be utilized to check cognitive functioning.

The primary problem with diagnosing ADHD in children is that most children are inattentive and squirrely at least at some point in their lives. Level of attention can be affected by level of interest. In order to be diagnosed, the child would have to be struggling with inattention and hyperactivity in more than one area of life., and this struggle cannot be explained by other factors. They also have to display at least 6 symptoms of inattention and at least 6 symptoms of hyperactivity as denoted in the DSM-5.