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Abstract: 

An emphasis on impairment is interwoven into every component of the ADHD diagnosis—the symptoms themselves are valid indices of ADHD only if they are impairing (i.e., “maladaptive”), and children with the disorder must exhibit chronic (i.e., before age seven), pervasive (i.e., cross-situational), and significant (i.e., problems in a major life domain) impairment in daily life functioning (APA, 1994). Given these criteria, every assessment for ADHD must include a measurement of the presence and extent of impairment caused by the symptoms of the disorder. A practical measure that assesses functioning and that can be easily completed by parents and teachers is the Impairment Rating Scale (IRS).

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Affiliations:  1: Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology,University of Buffalo.