ADHD Tests
There’s no single test to diagnose ADHD. Instead, doctors rely on several things, including:
Interviews with the parents, relatives, teachers, or other adults
Personally watching the child or adult
Questionnaires or rating scales that measure symptoms of ADHD
Psychological tests
The doctor needs to see how much a person’s symptoms are affecting his daily moods, behavior, productivity, and lifestyle habits. And he needs to
rule out other conditions.
With children, the doctor will talk with the parents about ADHD symptoms they have seen. The doctor will want to know what age the behaviors
began and where and when the child shows symptoms. The doctor may ask for a behavior report from the child’s teacher, report cards, and
samples of schoolwork.
With adults, the doctor may want to talk with a spouse or other family members. He’ll want to find out if they had symptoms in childhood. Knowing
if an adult had ADHD behavior as a child is important for making a diagnosis.
To rule out other conditions, a doctor may ask for tests, including:
Hearing and eyesight
A blood test for lead levels
A blood test for diseases such as thyroid disease
A test to measure electrical activity in the brain
A CT scan or MRI to check for brain abnormalities
What Doctors Look For
To diagnose ADHD, doctors most often use guidelines established by the American Psychiatric Association. The group has identified 3 types of
the disorder:
1. Inattentive Type: A person must have at least 6 out of these 9 symptoms, and few symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive type:
Doesn’t pay attention to detail or makes careless mistakes
Doesn’t stay on task
Doesn’t listen
Doesn’t follow instructions or finish schoolwork or chores
Trouble organizing tasks or activities
Avoids or dislikes doing things that take effort or concentration
Loses things
Easily distracted
Forgetful
2. Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: A person must have at least 6 out these 9 symptoms, and few symptoms of inattentive type:
Fidgets or squirms a lot
Gets up from his seat a lot
Runs or climbs at inappropriate times
Has trouble playing quietly
Always “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”
Talks excessively
Blurts an answer before the question has been completed
Trouble waiting his turn
Interrupts others
3. Combined Type. This is the most common type of ADHD. People with it have symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.
Along with these APA guidelines, doctors may also use rating scales to help them evaluate and track ADHD symptoms. A few examples are
The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale. This 55-question assessment tool reviews symptoms of ADHD. It also looks for other conditions such
as conduct disorder, oppositional-defiant disorder, anxiety, and depression.
The Child Attention Profile (CAP). This scale is generally filled out by teachers and tracks common ADHD symptoms.
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). This test looks for things like hyperactivity, aggression, and conduct problems. It also
looks for anxiety, depression, attention and learning problems, and lack of certain essential skills.
Child Behavior Checklist/Teacher Report Form (CBCL). Among other things, this scale looks at physical complaints, aggressive or
delinquent behavior, and withdrawal.
Brain Wave Tests
The Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) System is a scan that measures brain waves. The ratio of certain brain waves tends to
be higher in children and adolescents with ADHD. The scan is approved for use in children ages 6 to 17, but is meant to be used as a part of a
complete medical and psychological exam.
Other tests help diagnose other medical conditions that mimic ADHD. But they don’t diagnose ADHD.
From Diagnosis to Treatment
If the doctor makes an ADHD diagnosis, it’s important to follow the treatment. The doctor may recommend medications and behavioral therapy.
These treatments can bring relief from the symptoms and make ADHD easier to manage.
WebMD Medical Reference | Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on May 10, 2017
Sources
SOURCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics: “National Initiative for Children’s Health Quality (AAP/NICHQ)ADHD Practitioners’ Toolkit.”
American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V): “AD/HD.”
CHADD: “How is AD/HD Diagnosed?”
Medscape: “Diagnosing ADHD.”
FDA: “FDA permits marketing of rst brain wave test to help assess children and teens for ADHD.”
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WebMD: How is ADHD Diagnosed.
