What Is An ADHD Test Like?

@SammyRocks I'm not an expert, but I've read that professional testing for ADHD involves gathering a lot of information from you and also from as many adults who know you as possible, to get a complete picture.

Information can be gathered in informal interviews, by an interviewer asking standard questions from a checklist, or by using a rating scale that you complete on paper or on a computer. You can find some simple examples of ADHD rating scales by searching the Internet, but the rating scales used for serious diagnosis are only available for professional use.

There's some more information here: Screening for ADHD with Rating Scales

If you'd ever like to chat about any of this, feel free to click on my profile picture and message me.

Charlie

@SammyRocks Hi there! I'm an MSc Student with ADHD. I'd like to emphasise that I'm no expert and that you should always speak to some with the right training like a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist who has experience with clients with ADHD.

First of all, there is no single test that is going to tell you that you have ADHD. As @RarelyCharlie mentioned, you need information from multiple informants if possible: such as parents, teachers, or other close family members. So these informants would probably be interviewed. Professionals will also want your school records/reports if possible.

So I think the test you're mentioned is probably a screening measure which assesses if you have common symptoms of ADHD according to your responses. If it's the ASRS, it's not going to be very long: it's a self-report measure for adults. This test indicates the possibility of ADHD but it isn't definitive. There could be clinician measures: so the person assessing you records their observations using a scale designed for that purpose. Again, this isn't absolute.

Other parts of the diagnostic process would probably involve the DIVA - a diagnostic interview for ADHD. This would take longer but it aims to collect a very comprehensive picture of your psychiatric and other relevant history over time.

Usually, it is better to have more than one 'rater' or 'clinician' agree upon your diagnosis: so two different people might assess you with different tools and discuss their observations on speaking with you.

In summary, there is no defintive test for ADHD. There are no 'diagnostic biomarkers' or single causes-unless you have some kind of genetic syndrome- for ADHD, which relates to the amount of variation there is in how people experience ADHD.

I hope this clears your questions up?

There's nothing to fear : ) Just be honest and make sure you see an ADHD expert.

edited by jovialButterfly6752 on October 25th,2021 to clarify something.