A 6-year-old boy frequently interrupts conversations, cannot stay seated during class, loses homework, and acts impulsively without considering consequences. His teacher reports significant academic difficulty. Symptoms have been present since age 4 across home and school settings. According to DSM-5, how many symptoms of inattention/hyperactivity are required for an ADHD diagnosis in a child younger than 17 years?

• A 3 or more
• B 6 or more ✓
• C 5 or more
• D 9 or more

Explanation

DSM-5 requires 6 or more symptoms of inattention and/or 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity for children younger than 17 years (the threshold drops to 5 for individuals 17 years and older). Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months, present in two or more settings, and cause functional impairment. They must have onset before age 12 and not be better explained by another disorder.

Reference: Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.