Who diagnoses ADHD in teenagers?

Question

I am currently doing an essay on ADHD in teenagers and the SATS. There is an obvious correlation between learning disabilities and how wealthy students are. Apparently, the wealthy students fake learning disabilities (such as ADHD) in order to get extra time during the SATS.

The question I have is who diagnoses ADHD in these students? Do the wealthy schools encourage students to get diagnoses?

Answer 1

A licensed Ph.d. level Psychologist, a Psychiatrist or a general practitioner or perhaps a Neurologist are good sources for diagnosis.  An L.C.S.W. (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) can also render a diagnosis but may or may not have the proper training to do so.

ADHD and a Learning Disability are two different diagnosis. It is possible to have either or to have both but they do in fact have separate criterion for diagnosis.

I have heard of persons seeking diagnosis of both ADHD and LD for modifications on SAT's and ACT's. I have heard of students seeking diagnosis of ADHD so they can take a med like Adderall as a performance enhancing drug.

Public schools do not typically endorse diagnosis shopping.

I don't know what private wealthy schools do or for that matter what an overzealous Guidance Counselor might encourage in a public school setting. Generally it is the parents of the child that want the edge in a test situation who push hard for such diagnosis. The student typically wants it, again, for more that a one shot deal at a single standardized test and may use it for academics, sports, the feeling, etc..,

Answer 2

A psychologist or psychiatrist has to diagnose someone with any kind of mental disorder, like ADHD.  I think some MDs can too...I'm not exactly sure.  I've heard a lot about people "faking" ADHD, but mostly to get prescriptions for Adderall or other drugs.  It's pretty rampant on college campuses.

Answer 3

A medical Dr. is the one to diagnose ADHD correctly.