ADHD is a difficult disorder to diagnose. While it’s easy to assume that a hyperactive toddler or distracted student might be suffering from ADHD, these symptoms can also indicate a number of unrelated disorders: autism, sensory integration issues, learning disorders, and even hearing problems. When these disorders occur with ADHD, they are called “comorbid” disorders and must be addressed in the child’s treatment plan.
One way specialists assess comorbid learning disorders is through a trusted tool called the Vanderbilt ADHD Rating Scale (VARS). This scale was specifically designed to identify whether a child diagnosed with ADHD might also be suffering from learning disabilities, particularly in spelling or reading.
VARS isn’t actually used on the child per se; rather, the scale is answered by parents and teachers. After all, they are the ones who see how the child behaves on a regular basis. Scale items include behavioral descriptions, such as “Leaves seat when supposed to stay in seat” or “Afraid to try new things for fear of making mistakes.” The examinee must rate the following behaviors on a scale of 0 to 3, where 0 means “never” and 3 means “very often”.
It is important to note that this rating scale is not designed to identify or diagnose the specific comorbid disorder a child might have. Rather, it will help you find out if your child has any learning difficulties that need to be addressed by the appropriate specialist. Your child can then undergo certain treatments to overcome these problems along with ADHD symptoms.
Also, VARS cannot identify mathematics learning disorders. However, despite these limitations, researchers have found the VARS to be a reliable screening tool for children with ADHD. A recent study on the reliability of the VARS involved the participation of 128 unmedicated children with ADHD between the ages of 7 to 11 years. After parents and teachers took the test, 38% of the children were found to meet the criteria for learning disorders in spelling and reading.
Therefore, when evaluating your child for ADHD, make sure the doctor uses the VARS or similar screening tools designed to rule out comorbid disorders. In addition to treating the core symptoms of ADHD, it’s important to find out any problems your child may be experiencing so that he or she can make a full recovery.