How To Tell If You Have Attention Deficit Disorder

The lingering question after digesting a bunch of information about ADD is usually, “Do I have ADD?” If you’re asking us, the simple answer is, we don’t know. What has led you to believe that you might have ADD in the first place? Do the symptoms listed on some of the other pages resonate with things you have been feeling or dealing with since childhood? Has something that made you wonder, “do I have ADD” in the past crept back into your life and caused problems for you at work? It is possible that you went undiagnosed.

One of the most prevalent reasons that a child with ADD can go undiagnosed is that they are able to perform at a high level academically without having to concentrate much. Many people with ADD are intellectually gifted, and can get through high school without even studying much. For those people, the question of whether or not they have ADD is often met with a resounding, “no, of course not, look how well you’ve done in school.”

School, however, is not the only forum in which ADD can cause trouble for people.  This is one of several reasons that ADD goes undiagnosed until folks get out into the workforce. Another reason is that many people don’t display as many outward signs of hyperactivity. There are those who drum incessantly at their desks, and there are those who quietly daydream and don’t really show the overt signs. For those people, the question “do I have ADD” is met with “no, of course you don’t. You’re not hyper at all.” Hyperactivity, however, is not limited to physical hyperactivity, but also includes mental hyperactivity.

Another factor when considering the fact that you may have ADHD is whether (and this can be tough) you have been asked to “act your own age,” or if you personally feel that you regularly act in a way that is more suitable to someone much more your junior. One of the determining criteria in an ADD diagnosis is whether or not the behavior displayed is appropriate for the person’s age. If you have a group of close friends who mention you and ADD together regularly in conversation, you should probably look into it.

There are a number of indicators that point to ADD. Here are a few of them:

1. Finding it hard to get organized
2. Risky behaviors
3. Rocky marriage or dating relationship
4. Getting sidetracked easily
5. Trouble listening
6. Inability to sit still or relax
7. Overwhelmed easily when starting projects
8. Problems with punctuality
9. Easily angered / short temper
10. Ineffective prioritization

If you’ve read through these descriptions and you’re still wondering if you have ADHD, it is worth taking a look at our post about ADHD symptoms. We also have a Resources page where we have links posted to some of the highest-rated materials on ADD.  If you are interested in the potential treatment of ADD, we have some great information about that on our site as well. It covers medication, therapy, diet, exercise, and other less common treatments.

How did you know that you had ADD? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

If you believe you or one or more of your children might have ADHD, it could be in your best interest to have an ADHD test done.

While there is not necessarily one ADHD test in particular, the following information should help readers gain perspective on what forms of ADHD test are available, and how the diagnoses is made. There are links to excellent information about testing and diagnosis on our Resources page.

There are many symptoms of ADHD that may appear commonly in the behavior of people without ADHD. As with other mental disorders, there is a set of specific criteria used by mental health professionals to make diagnoses.

The official diagnostic criteria for ADHD state that the symptoms must occur beyond the extent that is normal for the person’s age, and must occur in a variety of different situations. For a positive diagnosis, the symptoms must also have appeared before the age of 7 (for childhood ADHD), and have continued for at least 6 months.

Impairments due to the symptoms of ADHD must also have been observed in at least two different settings, such as at school, at work, in the community, at social events, or at home. For example, a child who is rambunctious during recess but has no problems sitting down and concentrating for long periods of time on their schoolwork may not have ADHD, though they are exhibiting some of the symptoms.

So the critical questions to consider before an ADHD diagnosis is made are:

1. Are the symptoms noticeably heightened compared to expected behavior?
2. Have the symptoms been expressed over the long term, rather than in response to a recent change?
3. Are the symptoms pervasive (visible across multiple environments and situations)?

ADHD Diagnosis In Children

The signs of possible ADHD may first be noticed long before the child begins school. Their lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity may be seen when these lose interest in playing a game or watching a TV show, or if the child runs around and seems completely out of control. Parents may feel it is necessary to contact a pediatrician or a child psychologist to undergo an assessment of whether or not their child’s behavior is appropriate for their age.

Sometimes, even if an ADHD test shows signs that point toward a diagnosis, parents will be reassured that the child is behaving within normal limits and is just unusually exuberant or a little immature for their developmental stage. While administering an ADHD test can be useful before the child begins school, many professionals believe it is in the best interest of the child to wait until Kindergarten has been completed.

Sometimes it’s another adult who first suspects that a child may have attention deficit disorder, such as a babysitter or teacher. Teachers with experience of the disorder are particularly well placed to identify the symptoms of ADHD, especially as the symptoms are particularly evident in the school environment when teachers have come to know how children “typically” behave.

The inattentive form of ADHD may be missed for some time in pupils who are seemingly cooperative. Since ADHD is primarily a learning disorder, it is useful to have an ADHD test done if multiple teachers come forward with a concern.

ADHD Test

Once a specialist is consulted, the professional will begin to gather information on the child’s unusual behavior and rule out possible causes other than ADHD. For example, a sudden change in the child’s life, such as:

• death of a close relative
• divorce
• a parent’s job loss
• previously undetected seizures
• middle ear infection, which can cause hearing problems
• other types of medical disorder that may be affecting the child’s brain
• learning disability
• anxiety and/or depression

These factors can usually be ruled out with help from the parents and school, but an ADHD test may be necessary. Alongside this information, the specialist will find out how the child’s behavior is currently being handled, and look into the nature of the child’s home and school to find out if they are unusually stressful or chaotic.

The child will then be assessed directly, and their behavioral symptoms will be observed in a range of environments and compared against those set out in the diagnostic manual. The specialist will give special attention to the child’s behavior during situations which call for the most self-control, and noisy or unstructured situations such as parties. Their response to activities that require sustained attention (reading, working math problems, or playing a board game) will be observed.

This data will allow the specialist to pieces together a profile of the child, finding out which specific ADHD symptoms the child shows, how often, and in which situations. Children with ADHD will vary on their age when symptoms began, the pattern of symptoms – whether they are chronic or come and go in phases, and the extent to which they interfere with aspects of the child’s life such as friendships, school activities, home life, and community activities.

Other related problems, if they exist, may also be identified during the ADHD test and subsequent diagnosis.

The assessment will include speaking with teachers who have taught the child since they began school. The teachers fill in standard evaluation forms, known as behavior rating scales. These results are then compared with what would be considered “normal.”

Interviews also take place with the child’s teachers, parents, and possibly other adults who know the child well. They will be questioned on how the child behaves in many settings, and may be given a rating scale to mark the severity and frequency of the behavior. Other components of an ADHD test that are often given include: social adjustment, mental health, intelligence, and learning achievement.

ADHD Diagnosis In Adults

Originally, attention deficit disorder was strictly a childhood disorder. Experts no longer believe that the symptoms of ADHD disappear in adulthood. Figures suggest that up to two-thirds of children with the disorder will continue to display ADHD behaviors well into adulthood. As the individual grows up, he or she will become more aware of the challenges this brings.

Many adults with ADHD were never diagnosed with a problem in their early years through an ADHD test, or were given the wrong diagnosis — such as a learning disability, attitude problem, or personality or character disorder.

The disorder may be the underlying cause of many personal and work problems including difficult relationships, anger, depression, and alcohol or substance abuse. Once an ADHD test is performed and a proper diagnosis is made, the individual can begin to find their own way of coping, even using their excess energy in positive ways.

For adults, ADHD diagnosis involves examining the individual’s past as well as their current difficulties. Family members may be asked to help. The specialist will review and assess their childhood and recollections of behaviors that may fit the ADHD symptoms. Academic and job performance will be evaluated, as will family relationships and the nature and quality of the person’s friendships. In these ways, the ADHD test process is a bit different for adults than for children.

The specialist must be careful to rule out from an ADHD diagnosis adults who believe they have the disorder, but who seemingly had no problems in childhood. These individuals may need advice with their current issues, but the label of ADHD will probably not be helpful.

After Diagnosis

Once a correct diagnosis is made, based on all the components of the ADHD test, the child or adult with ADHD can now be given help to manage their condition. For parents of children with ADHD, adults with ADHD, and even the children themselves, diagnosis can be a relief because it helps explain behavior problems that may have been occurring for a long time beforehand.

Educational, medical, and emotional support can be given, such as informing teachers, other staff at school, and other adults who often interact with the child. Lessons may need to be planned differently, and the most effective medication for the individual can be explored. Please see the Resources page for more information.