ADHD Testing

ADHD Diagnosis

There are three groups of ADHD symptoms:
1. Inattention
2. Hyperactivity
3. Impulsivity

Someone with ADHD may have symptoms of any or all listed above.

Inattention

Symptoms of Inattention include the following:

• Procrastination of homework or chores
• Frequently moving from one uncompleted activity to another.
• Disorganiztion
• Lack focus
• Difficulty paying attention to details and a tendency to make careless mistakes. Work might be messy and seem careless.
• Difficulty staying on topic while talking, not listening to others, and not following social rules
• Being forgetful about daily activities, such as missing appointments, forgetting to take medications, losing things, or personal self-care needs
• Being easily distracted by things like trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity symptoms may vary with age and may be noticeable in children as young as 2 to 3 years old.

Kids with hyperactivity may:

• Fidget and squirm when seated.
• Get up frequently to walk or run around.
• Run or climb a lot when it's not appropriate. (In teens this may seem like restlessness.)
• Have trouble playing quietly or doing quiet hobbies
• Always be "on the go"
• Talk excessively

Toddlers and preschoolers with ADHD tend to be constantly in motion, jumping on furniture and having trouble participating in group activities that call for them to sit still. For instance, they may have a hard time listening to a story.

School-age children have similar habits, but you may notice those less often. They are unable to stay seated, squirm a lot, fidget, or talk a lot.

Hyperactivity can show up as feelings of restlessness in teens and adults. They may also have a hard time doing quiet activities where you sit still.

Impulsivity

Symptoms of this include:

• Impatience
• Having a hard time waiting to talk or react
• Have a hard time waiting for their turn
• Blurt out answers before someone finishes asking them a question.
• Frequently interrupt or intrude on others. This often happens so much that it causes problems in social or work settings.
• Start conversations at inappropriate times.

Impulsivity can lead to accidents, like knocking over objects or banging into people. Children with ADHD may also do risky things without stopping to think about the consequences. For instance, they may climb and put themselves in danger.

ADHD Assessment

ADHD Assessment is typically considered medically necessary by insurance companies and is usually a covered benefit of insurance plans.

ADHD Assessment includes the following:

• Extensive Clinical Interview
• Testing of Cognitive ability (IQ)
• Testing of Attention & Concentration
• Testing of Processing Speed and Mental Flexibility
• Testing of Verbal and Visual Memory
• Testing of Verbal and Visual Reasoning
• Testing of motor and sensory skills
• Testing of psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mood dysregulation, anger, and self-concept that mimic or exacerbate ADHD symptoms
• Testing of personality structure for pre-adolescents, adolescents, and adults to assess attitudes, emotions, thoughts/beliefs, and behavioral characteristics that may contribute to psychosocial difficulties.

Why have ADHD testing?

If someone has ADHD symptoms, it is important to have proper neuropsychological testing which can guide medication choices, treatment modalities, school accommodations, and parenting decisions.