If ADHD is caused by having a lower baseline dopamine level, why is it so hard to diagnose? Can't we just measure dopamine levels?

Att ention Def ic it Hyper activity Dis order ( AD HD ) is a complex ne uro development al dis order that is not fully understood . While it is true that dop am ine levels may be lower in individuals with AD HD , it is not as simple as just meas uring dop am ine levels to diagn ose the dis order . \n \n There are several reasons why diagn osing AD HD can be difficult : \n \n 1 . Sym pt oms are often not apparent in all settings : AD HD sympt oms may not be notice able in all settings , such as at home or in a quiet environment . This makes it difficult to diagn ose the dis order based on a single evaluation . \n 2 . Over la pping sympt oms with other dis orders : AD HD sympt oms can overlap with those of other dis orders , such as anx iety or de pression . This can make it difficult to determine whether the sympt oms are due to AD HD or another dis order . \n 3 . Sub jective nature of sympt oms : The sympt oms of AD HD can be subject ive and may vary from person to person . This makes it difficult to diagn ose the dis order based on a single evaluation . \n 4 . Di agnostic criteria : The di agnostic criteria for AD HD are not always clear - cut , and there can be variations in how sympt oms are defined and evaluated . This can make it difficult to diagn ose the dis order consist ently . \n \n In summary , diagn osing AD HD is a complex process that requires a compreh ensive evaluation of an individual ' s sympt oms , medical history , and other factors . While dop am ine levels may be a factor in the development of AD HD , meas uring dop am ine levels alone is not sufficient for diagn osing the dis order . </s>