Help from an ADHD Test

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By: Anne Durrell



Diagnosing ADHD is usually done with an ADHD test. It is not a test like you may normally think of as something a doctor would do. An ADHD test has nothing to do with blood work because ADHD is a mental disorder, not diagnosable through standard medical tests. Instead this type of test is an assessment that is done through observation.

The American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association or APA has created a list of 14 behavioral checkpoints to test for ADHD. According to the APA checklist a child must exhibit at least 8 of the checkpoints to be diagnosed with ADHD. There are other tests that are often done to confirm the diagnosis such as brain scans.

Problems with ADHD Behavioral Observation Tests

There are many children who are misdiagnosed as having ADHD. In some cases they may have another health condition or just be exhibiting normal, age appropriate behaviors. One of the main reasons that ADHD is often misdiagnosed is that testing is purely observational and therefore subjective.

The person giving the test may be less able to tolerate certain behavior than another would be and may mark it as a problem when someone else would consider it normal. For this reason, ADHD testing is often done as a collaborative effort where parents, teachers and doctors all give their opinions about a child’s behavior.

It is also common for parents to believe their child has ADHD simply because they are with them often and common ADHD behaviors can be difficult to deal with. However, some ADHD behaviors are simply common childhood behavior. Recognizing the difference is a matter of looking at the overall picture. A child can only be considered to have a problem when they are displaying a symptom frequently on a regular basis.

Sample ADHD Test

The following is a sample of checklist items that would be found on a comprehensive ADHD test:

• Is not working to potential at school
• Has a short attention span unless the task at hand is something they like to do
• Family history of ADHD or ADD, other learning problems or substance abuse
• Easily distracted.
• Does not pay attention to detail.
• Intelligible writing.
• Trouble with writing down thoughts.
• Poor listening skills
• Forgetfulness
• Trouble reading complete through a passage
• Problems with learning new things
• Appears restless
• Fidgets when concentrating or trying to concentrate
• Nervous or anxious behavior
• Poor communication skills
• Wet the bed after the age of 5
• Trouble controlling impulses
• Bored easily
• Speaks without thinking
• Impatient
• Makes careless mistakes
• Unorganized
• Procrastinates often
• Overwhelmed easily
• Leaves projects unfinished
• Negative attitude
• Quick temper
• Sensitive to touch or sounds

Check out my other guide on bipolar mania and what is schizophrenia



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