Additional Documentation Guidelines for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

The process of diagnosing and determining functional limitations of ADHD is highly individualized. As a result, the following guidelines are provided to help assure a comprehensive assessment of ADHD. These guidelines are a supplement to the general University of Minnesota Guidelines for Providing Documentation of Disability. Please note that an IEP or 504 plan do not constitute adequate documentation, but may be submitted in addition to an assessment report.

A comprehensive ADHD assessment includes:

• Reason for referral



• Background information



• Behavioral observations



• Clinical/interpretive summary



• Clear statement of diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria and level of severity



• A summary and interpretation of assessment results and clinical findings



• Suggestions for management or treatment of the condition



• A description of the substantial limitation to learning or other major life activities.

In addition, a comprehensive ADHD report:

• Rules out or discusses potential factors related to academic difficulty such as cultural/language barriers, inadequate instruction, poor motivation, poor study skills, emotional issues, or other disability conditions.



• Provides specific test results or clinical observations to support any suggested academic accommodations.