Maybe you’ve struggled to focus for as long as you could remember. Basic tasks that seem easy for others, like cleaning your home, preparing a simple meal, or responding to emails, feel like uphill battles for you. You might wonder if you have ADHD. However, you’ve never been tested, and you’re not sure what to expect.
Perhaps you’re not struggling with possible ADHD symptoms, but you’re concerned about your child. They might have trouble paying attention in class, and nothing you’ve tried so far seems to help. You may be curious about scheduling ADHD testing for your child so you can figure out your next steps.
ADHD testing can seem overwhelming. Here’s a general overview of how the ADHD testing process works.
Initial Screening and Interviews
A professional, such as a pediatrician, psychiatrist, or therapist, will administer the test. First, they will interview you about your family history and personal health history, as well as your current symptoms. If relevant, they may interview other people close to you for additional insights, like your family members. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers during these interviews, and it’s not like a test in school.
Questionnaires
During this stage of the testing process, you’ll complete a range of questionnaires and rating scales to share information your symptoms. This will help the evaluator figure out just how severe your symptoms are, how often you experience these symptoms, and whether or not they are cause for concern. The results can also help your evaluator figure out if you’re dealing with conditions that commonly co-occur with ADHD, like depression or anxiety.
Behavioral Assessments
In addition to interviews, questionnaires, and rating scales, behavioral assessments are also an important part of ADHD testing. The evaluator can observe how you behave in different settings. This can give them a deeper understanding of what your symptoms look like and how these symptoms affect different areas of your life.
For young children, parents and teachers are often involved in the behavior assessments. The evaluator can provide them with questionnaires about a child’s behavior at home or at school.
Physical Examinations
ADHD does not necessarily have to include physical examinations. But depending on your medical history and specific symptom presentation, your doctor might recommend other tests to evaluate your cognitive abilities to assess whether or not you may be dealing with a different medical condition.
Determining Your Diagnosis
In order to receive an ADHD diagnosis, you will need to demonstrate certain symptoms. For example, if you have at least six symptoms of inattention, you may be diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. Alternatively, if you display a minimum of six symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity, you might be diagnosed with hyper-active impulsive ADHD. Individuals who display at least twelve symptoms can be diagnosed with the combined type of ADHD, which is characterized by hyperactive and inattentive symptoms.
Additionally, only individuals who displayed ADHD symptoms before turning 12 can qualify for a diagnosis. To determine when your symptoms began, your evaluator will ask extensive questions about your time in school and your childhood in general. Furthermore, the evaluator will want to know if your symptoms persist in at least two settings. For example, this could include your workplace and your home.
To determine your diagnosis, your evaluator will gather and synthesize all of the information from throughout the testing process, factoring in the duration, severity, and frequency of your symptoms. They will also consider how ADHD affects your everyday life.
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Are you struggling with potential ADHD symptoms and ready to find an answer? Reach out to our practice to learn more about your ADHD testing options.
