How Do You Get Diagnosed With Video Game Addiction? What Parents Should Know

For many parents, watching a child’s love for video games transform into an all-consuming obsession is a deeply confusing and frightening experience. The line between a passionate hobby and a serious problem can feel blurry. When gaming starts to harm a child’s grades, health, and family relationships, you may wonder if it’s an addiction. Securing a formal diagnosis is a critical first step toward getting the right help.

A diagnosis is not about labeling your child or placing blame. It’s a tool that allows healthcare professionals to create a targeted care plan. It can also unlock school accommodations and provide essential documentation if you need to address consumer harms like predatory microtransactions. At Walch Law, we believe parents need clear, supportive information.

What Do Clinicians Call It? Gaming Disorder vs. Internet Gaming Disorder

It’s important to understand that what we commonly call “video game addiction” is recognized by leading health organizations as a legitimate behavioral health condition. This is a medical issue, not a moral failing or a matter of willpower.

Gaming Disorder (WHO): The World Health Organization (WHO) officially included “Gaming Disorder” in the 11th edition of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This gives the condition a formal diagnostic code, allowing clinicians worldwide to diagnose and treat it.
Internet Gaming Disorder (APA): The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has listed “Internet Gaming Disorder” in the an appendix of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a condition requiring further study. While not an official disorder in the DSM-5 yet, it provides a framework that many U.S. clinicians use for assessment.

Both frameworks describe a persistent and recurring pattern of gaming behavior that causes significant distress or impairment.

The Core Features of a Gaming Disorder Diagnosis

A clinician will look for a specific pattern of behavior, typically lasting at least 12 months, though a diagnosis can be made sooner if the symptoms are severe. The key features include:

Impaired Control Over Gaming: Your child is unable to control how often, how long, or when they play. They may try to cut back and fail, or they may consistently play for much longer than they intended.
Increasing Priority Given to Gaming: Gaming takes precedence over everything else. It becomes more important than schoolwork, chores, family activities, friendships, and even basic needs like sleeping and eating.
Continuation Despite Negative Consequences: Your child keeps gaming even when they know it’s causing serious problems. This could be failing grades, being suspended from a sports team, constant family fights, or health issues.
Significant Functional Impairment: The gaming behavior leads to major problems in personal, family, social, educational, or other important areas of life.

What to Expect During a Diagnostic Assessment

Getting a diagnosis is a multi-step process designed to get a complete picture of your child’s health and behavior.

Step 1: Pediatrician Screening and Rule-Outs
Your pediatrician is often the first stop. They will screen for problematic gaming and, just as importantly, rule out or identify other conditions that could be causing the symptoms. These can include sleep disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety, substance use, or an undiagnosed learning disability.
Step 2: Use of Standardized Tools
A mental health professional may use specific, validated questionnaires to measure the extent of the gaming behavior. These tools provide objective data. Examples include:
- Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10): A short test based on the DSM-5 criteria.
- Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA): A widely used scale to assess the severity of addiction symptoms.
Step 3: Clinical Interviews and Collateral Information
The clinician will conduct detailed interviews with both you and your child (separately and together). They will ask about gaming habits, family dynamics, and the specific problems gaming is causing. They may also request permission to speak with your child’s school counselor or teachers to get a full view of the functional impairment.
Step 4: Functional Impact Review
This is a deep dive into how gaming is affecting every aspect of your child’s life. Expect questions about grades, attendance, friendships, hygiene, nutrition, sleep, and spending habits.
Step 5: Comorbidity and Safety Assessment
Clinicians will assess for co-occurring mental health conditions (comorbidities), as gaming addiction often appears alongside depression or anxiety. Most importantly, they will conduct a safety assessment to check for any risk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or extreme aggression.

Who Can Diagnose and Treat Video Game Addiction?

A formal diagnosis should come from a qualified professional with experience in behavioral addictions.

Diagnosticians: Child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, pediatricians with behavioral health training, and licensed therapists (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC) can all perform an assessment.
Treatment Providers: Treatment is often delivered by a multidisciplinary team. It can range from outpatient therapy to more intensive programs like an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), or, in severe cases, residential or inpatient care.

What Does a Treatment Plan Look Like?

Treatment is not about simply taking away the games. It’s a comprehensive approach to help your child regain control and build a healthy, balanced life. A good treatment plan often includes:

Psychoeducation: Helping the child and family understand the science of addiction.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Teaching the child to identify triggers and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Family Therapy: Addressing family dynamics, improving communication, and setting unified boundaries.
Tech Boundaries: Implementing clear rules around screen time, using parental controls, and creating device-free times and zones.
Treating Comorbidities: Providing medication or therapy for underlying conditions like ADHD or depression.
School Coordination: Working with the school to create an IEP or 504 plan for accommodations.
Digital Detox: In some cases, a structured, temporary break from all screens can help reset the brain’s reward system.

How Parents Can Prepare for an Evaluation

The more organized you are, the more effective the evaluation will be. Start gathering the following:

Logs: Keep a simple journal for a week or two tracking hours played, sleep, and any arguments or meltdowns related to gaming.
List of Games and Platforms: Write down the specific games your child plays (e.g., Fortnite, Roblox) and the platforms they use (e.g., Xbox, PC, phone).
School Records: Gather recent report cards and any notes or emails from teachers about your child’s behavior or performance.
Prior Records: Have a list of any previous diagnoses, medications, or therapies.
Spending History: Document any unauthorized spending on microtransactions or loot boxes.

How a Diagnosis Can Help with Legal and Consumer Issues

While the primary goal of a diagnosis is to get your child help, it can also be valuable documentation if you have a consumer dispute with a game company. Predatory practices targeting minors are a growing concern. A formal diagnosis can strengthen your position when addressing:

Unauthorized Microtransactions: A diagnosis can support claims that a child lacked the capacity to consent to thousands of dollars in charges.
Deceptive Loot Boxes: It can be used as evidence that a child with impulse-control issues was exploited by gambling-like mechanics.
Inadequate Parental Controls: It can demonstrate that the platform’s “protections” were insufficient to prevent harm to a vulnerable user.

To pursue these claims, it is vital to preserve evidence like receipts, credit card statements, chat logs, and your account history. While a diagnosis offers no guarantee of a legal outcome, it provides powerful context for your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many hours of gaming is considered an “addiction”?
There is no magic number. A child playing 20 hours a week with good grades and an active social life is likely not addicted. A child playing 10 hours a week who is failing school and has no friends might be. The diagnosis is based on functional impairment, not hours played.

2. Can my child be forced to quit gaming entirely?
While a temporary “digital detox” is a common therapeutic tool, the long-term goal is usually moderation and balance, not total abstinence, as technology is an unavoidable part of modern life.

3. Can we get refunds for all the money our child spent?
It can be very difficult, but it’s not impossible. A formal diagnosis and well-documented evidence of predatory design can support a legal demand for refunds.

4. Will a diagnosis go on my child’s permanent school records?
Medical diagnoses are confidential health information. You choose what to share with the school. A diagnosis is typically shared only to establish the need for an IEP or 504 plan for accommodations.

5. Can we get school accommodations with a diagnosis?
Yes. A formal Gaming Disorder diagnosis can be the basis for requesting accommodations under an IEP or 504 plan, such as extended time on assignments missed due to gaming-related sleep deprivation.

6. Will my child have to testify in a case against a game company?
It is extremely unlikely. These cases are almost always resolved without a minor having to appear in court.

You Are Not Alone. We Can Help.

Navigating a child’s problematic gaming is an isolating and stressful experience. While your first priority is your child’s health, you also have consumer rights when platforms use deceptive practices that cause financial and emotional harm. The team at Walch Law can help you understand your legal options for recovering unauthorized charges and holding irresponsible companies accountable, all while coordinating with your child’s care team.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Let us advise you on the next steps so you can focus on what matters most: helping your family heal.