How Do You Test An Adult For ADHD?
Most people know the basics of ADHD, but it’s commonly referred to as a children’s disorder. While it’s true that ADHD is diagnosed more often in children, there are plenty of adults with the condition. You may have had ADHD since childhood. Maybe you were never tested. Perhaps you were misdiagnosed.
Whatever the case, it’s never too late to determine if you have the disorder. Getting tested for it is the first step. With a proper diagnosis, you can learn to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life simply by better understanding what’s causing so many problems.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you can test for ADHD as an adult and when you should consider it.
Understanding the Symptoms
If you’re unsure whether you should be tested, look at some of the most common signs. The most common include having trouble focusing, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity.
You might find that you’re often bored or even depressed at times. You might experience mood swings or be easily irritable. Symptoms vary and can even be more severe for some than others. But, if you’ve experienced any of these issues, it’s important to take a closer look at what’s causing them.
A Self-Diagnosis
The World Health Organization (WHO) has made it easier for adults who might have ADHD to determine if they should move forward with official testing. They released a questionnaire as a self-screening device to help you better understand the signs and symptoms of ADHD.
The self-screener consists of several questions you answer by ranking how you feel and how often you perform certain actions. The following are a few questions from the questionnaire to give you an idea of what to expect:
How often do you forget appointments or obligations?
How often do you avoid or delay getting started when a task requires extra thought?
Are you often distracted by noise or activity around you?
You can find the questionnaire for free online, but keep in mind that it’s not an official diagnostic tool. Rather, you should use it as a starting point to determine if you might have ADHD. If you’re concerned about your results, bring the questionnaire to your doctor.
The “Official” ADHD Test
There is no singular test for ADHD. A doctor can’t perform bloodwork to determine if you have the disorder. They can’t do scans or run labs. However, most medical professionals have enough experience in dealing with ADHD that they can provide an accurate diagnosis based on a few factors.
If you make an appointment with a medical professional to discuss the possibility of ADHD, they’ll look at things like your medical history. They’ll also observe your behavior, look at different rating scales, and may even run some neurophysiological testing.
Far too often, ADHD is misdiagnosed. While that tends to happen in children more than adults, it’s not impossible for someone in the medical field to “get it wrong.” Working with a medical professional you trust and someone you feel confident with is essential. Be as transparent as possible about your symptoms and what you’re experiencing; you’re more likely to get an accurate diagnosis.
What Should You Do?
If you regularly experience any of the symptoms discussed here, consider using the WHO’s self-assessment tool as a starting point. It can help you hone in on those symptoms to understand better what they mean.
The good news is that adult ADHD is manageable. However, you have to receive a diagnosis first. From there, talk to a mental health professional or medical doctor. If you’re struggling and looking for someone to talk to about it, feel free to contact me for more information.
Individual Counseling Can Help
If symptoms of ADHD are impacting you contact me to set up a 15-minute consultation. We can discuss how individual counseling can help you today!
