ADHD TestAn objective physiological measure of ADHD has been elusive. However, research by Jason Alster MSc has shown that when an ADD person tries to sit still , do a boring task, or concentrate- they actually enter stress as measured by electro dermal activity. This marker is positive in the majority of ADD clients tested. Then GSR biofeedback may be used to improve the stress result. A protocol using this valid objective physiological marker has just been published in a video- Guide for GSR Biofeedback Techniques For The Natural ADHD Practitioner.

A reliable diagnosis of ADHD can be made with well-tested diagnostic interview methods.

Diagnosis is based on history and visible behaviors in the child's normal environment. A doctor making a diagnosis should ask for input from the child, parents, teachers, and other health care providers. The doctor will collect information on a thorough history about the symptoms, and on the medical, developmental, school, psychosocial, and family histories.

He or she also will consider other causes for the problem, and review other conditions that could be present. It is helpful to find out what has prompted the request for evaluation and how the problems had been approached in the past. At this time, there is no single test for ADHD. This is not unique to ADHD, but applies to most psychiatric disorders.

Research on brain imaging has shown that the brains of children with ADHD differ from those of children without the disorder. Several brain regions and structures in children with ADHD tend to be smaller. Overall brain size is generally 5% smaller in affected children than in children without ADHD. While this average difference is seen over and over, it is too small to be used alone in making the diagnosis of ADHD in a particular person. Also, there appears to be a link between a person's ability to pay continued attention and the amount of their brain activity. In people with ADHD, the brain areas that control attention show to be less active. This suggests that lower levels of activity in some parts of the brain may be related to problems in sustaining attention.

The diagnosis of ADHD in the preschool child is possible, but can be difficult and should be made cautiously by experts well trained in childhood neurobehavioral disorders. Developmental problems, especially language delays, and adjustment problems can sometimes look like ADHD. Treatment should focus on placing the child in a structured preschool with parent training and support. Stimulants can reduce difficult behavior and improve mother-child interactions, but they usually are saved for severe cases, or when a child is unresponsive to environmental or behavioral interventions.

Well when I was younger about 8 years old I was told that I could have ADD and I think I do Im 16 years old now and I just wanted to know is their a test I can take to see if I really do have ADD?

CHADD has a great website with information and checklists available to print. These can be completed by parents, friends, teachers and others close to you to help determine whether you should seek treatment. ADHD adults are notoriously poor self observers so make sure that you have others give you their objective opinion.

The AMENS clinic has an online test that is free and will tell you the percentage of possibility that you have ADHD as well as many co-morbid conditions.

The best resource I can suggest is the book "Driven to Distraction" in which the symptoms are described in great detail. You should have a pretty good idea upon completion whether or not you could have ADD/ADHD.

There are attention span tests that can and should be administered by a licensed professional once there is a reasonable assumption that you have ADHD. These, I know through experience, are not available in every city and are very expensive. Not one of the professionals in my area who offer this testing take any medical insurance and many policies will not cover this type of diagnostic exam. My advice would be to have your family doctor confirm the possibility before setting up the testing. We all have some ADHD symptoms, there is a big difference in behaviors that "can't" be controlled and "won't" be controlled.

There are two tests at amenclinic.com

The first one, a short list, is general, but resembles what a psychiatrist would use.

The second is longer, and more specific, and pops you into one of five Types.

However, I took the test, 3 months apart, and ended up on two different categories.

However, both categories where basically ADHD/WO (without H).

Currently, only 3 categories are accepted, but people are pressing for 5.

Diagnosis is largely Behavioral Observation. It is very subjective, when doing self evaluation.

Brain SPECT Imaging may, in the future, provide objective evaluation, especially if it becomes as affordable as mammograms. But since ADD does not cause death or disability, there may not be sufficient demand to lower those costs.

Some psychiatrists prefer to try low dosages of the common medications, before labelling someone with ADD/ADHD. This leaves other options open, and helps children and adults avoid the negative stigma, associated with "mental problem" societal stereotyping.

There is no one recognized test but there are some diagnostic tools: There are several types of questionnaires depending on the age of the patient Self-report questionnaires have certain advantages and limitations. They are quick, inexpensive, and easy to score. One of the dangers is that people may fill them out as they want to be perceived. For example, some people mark all of the symptoms as a frequent problem, in essence saying, "I'm glad to have a problem so that I can get help, be sick, or have an excuse for the problems I have." Usually a questionnaire from several sources to describe behavior of the patient is desirable.This questionnaire is a valuable tool to help determine if there are problems in the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, basal ganglia, temporal lobes or deep limbic system...These areas determine focus, impulsivity and behavior...................................................................... BRAIN SPECT IMAGING and EEG's are also used for measuring abnormal activity in the brain..these are fairly new and should be used in conjunction with other test. There are several older test that were once used for testing such as the Tova. Other ADD diagnostic tools are test that assigns children special "continuous performance tasks" (CPTs) and Gordon Diagnostic System (GDS). It would be more than rare to be given anything other than a questionnaire and an interview before being diagnosed....ADD is a big business...It is much harder to be tested and declared normal (whatever that is)......................................................................

if you go to your normal doctor and you really think there is a problem they will set you up with a specalist to take certain tests. I had this done many years ago so I can't say if there is anything new out but that is how I found out.

I think you got a little more info here than you were expecting:) Basically, if you believe you might have it and you want to be tested for it, either talk to a school counselor or your physician or you could even make an appointment with a psychiatrist, and they can help you.

A counselor or a physician should be able to set you up with someone who can evaluate your behavior and performance (usually by having you take some timed and untimed logic and puzzle tests) and asking you a bunch of questions.

Psychiatrists can usually do the evaluation themselves, but if you make an appointment with one you have to make sure they are the kind that deal w/ young people and disorders like Attention Deficit.

There are numerous rating scales which are used to diagnose adhd, although these would only be used if the symptoms set out in the DSM IV were evident to begin with

THE SHORT ANSWER: NO. Experienced doctors, neurologists, etc...use various lists of behaviors that suggest ADD/ADHD and compare the child/adult to the many "typical" or "target" behaviors. They use their own observations, anecdotal reports, parents or self observations and other objective information from school personnel, etc... If the person being evaluated exhibits a high percentage of the "target behaviors", then the evaluator will classify the person as having ADD/ADHD. There is no "test" or difinitive "diagnosis" per se.

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