ADD Test

Without A Single Definitive ADD/ADHD Test, Diagnosis Can Be Difficult

Although ADD or ADHD is prevalent among school-aged children and has become familiar to many parents as a disorder that causes a lack of focus and hyperactivity in children, there is no single ADD/ADHD test that can be used for diagnosis. In fact, receiving a medical diagnosis requires having the child assessed by a mental or medical health professional based on the child’s history and ruling out other conditions that may show similar symptoms.

Für eine treffende Diagnose bedarf es der Untersuchung eines Psychologen oder medizinischen Fachpersonals. Um die Diagnose zu sichern, muss sich der behandelnde Arzt mit der Vergangenheit des Kindes auseinandersetzen, um somit andere Erkrankungen mit ähnlichen Symptomen ausschließen zu können.

You Can Take An Online ADD/ADHD Test for Screening Purposes Only

You will find a number of sites online that offer an ADD/ADHD test that you can take on their site including the one at http://newideas.net/adhd-online-test-screening. While this type of ADD/ADHD test can be useful as a screening tool, it is in no way meant for use as a means of diagnosing the disorder in children or adults.

The ADD/ADHD test that is available at this link has seven sections with about ten questions each. If you prefer, you can print the test out in PDF format to take later. Once you submit the ADD/ADHD test, the computer will evaluate the score. While this is not a way of making a diagnosis, it can be a useful tool for those parents who are concerned about their child’s behavior but aren’t sure that they have the symptoms normally seen with ADHD. It can help you determine what the next step should be in getting your child evaluated.

Criteria Commonly Used in an ADD/ADHD Test

Since there are three different types of ADHD, a physician will use an ADD/ADHD test that will cover a variety of symptoms. ADHD may exist as the predominantly inattentive type, the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, or the combined type. Some individuals are also diagnosed with ADHD that is not specific to any type. The criteria a doctor will often use as an ADD/ADHD test for any type of the disorders includes:

• Evaluating the child through discussion
• Evaluating the child’s medical history through records as well as by discussing his/her behavior at home, at school, in social situations, as well as emotional and behavioral history with the parents.
• A physical exam
• Using the rating scales or checklist parents and teachers can implement to evaluate the symptoms the child has been exhibiting.

Misdiagnosis is Common Without a Dependable ADD/ADHD Test

Without a single, definitive ADD/ADHD test, a child may be misdiagnosed with other behavioral conditions that are associated with similar symptoms. While there is no single ADD/ADHD Test to help diagnose ADHD, there are several different verbal or written tests that can be used to distinguish these other conditions or to determine when they exist in combination with ADHD.

Doctors will often rule out other problems before determining that a child has ADHD. Since they may frequently have difficulty learning to read and write or in working math problems, a test for learning disabilities can help determine the best course of action. Although not an actual ADD/ADHD Test, one that tests hearing or vision or that determines if the child has low blood cell counts, has been exposed to lead, has thyroid disease or may be experiencing seizures may determine if something else is causing their poor performance at school. In this way, the test will determine if the child has ADHD or some other illness or condition.

For adults that are exhibiting symptoms normally seen in adult ADHD, doctors may use the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) as an ADD/ADHD test to determine if this is the cause of their symptoms.

Early Diagnosis Without an ADD/ADHD Test

The best approach to treating ADHD is to diagnose it as early as possible. For doctors, this means asking about child behavior during regular checkups. For the parents, discuss any concerns about your child’s behavior when you go for doctor’s visits and keep an idea in mind of the frequency these behaviors occur in addition to what conditions seem to trigger them. If you think your child may be exhibiting signs of ADHD, ask his/her physician about doing an evaluation in order to get an accurate diagnosis.