ADHD Test – The First Step to Diagnosis and Treatment

ADHD Test – The First Step to Diagnosis and Treatment

Testing for ADHD is an essential first step in receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment. If you are struggling with symptoms such as losing keys, not finishing tasks at work or having issues in your relationship, getting a formal diagnosis is paramount so that you can take control of things and get the help needed.

A diagnostic interview is a key element of any comprehensive evaluation. It involves an in-depth discussion with your doctor about current symptoms and any difficulties as a child, as well as past medical history, family life/marriage status/educational/work history/driving record/alcohol or drug use history and social history.

In most clinical interviews, your physician uses symptoms checklists and DSM-5 symptom questionnaires to help them make a diagnosis of ADHD. These questions also allow them to rule out other mental health conditions that could be interfering with your life and contributing to some of your ADHD symptoms.

Psychometric testing is another essential aspect of a comprehensive evaluation. These tests assess intelligence, cognitive functioning, attention/impulsivity and whether there are any learning disabilities, autism or auditory processing disorders present.

Additionally, neuro-imaging procedures such as positron emission tomography scans, single-photon emission computed tomography scans and continuous performance tests (CPTs) may be utilized to detect brain anomalies associated with ADHD. Unfortunately, these types of tests have yet to be validated by scientific research and thus could pose risks to patients.