Too often a diagnosis of ADHD is made without taking the time or putting in the energy to gather all the necessary information to make an accurate diagnosis. The best interventions for correcting someone’s symptoms and/or inappropriate behaviors will be very different depending on the diagnosis. Often other disorders and problems can mimic the symptoms of ADHD. For example, a stressed out, depressed, or anxious child can become inattentive and distracted at home and at school. To make matters even more complicated, approximately 80% of individuals diagnosed with ADHD also have other coexisting psychiatric disorders that require professional attention and unique solutions.
Frequently ADHD leads to problems with peer relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, and academic and/or work under-performance. A comprehensive evaluation & ADHD Test will answer why an individual is struggling in these areas. A correct conceptualization of the underlying causes of a problem is the crucial first step to finding the right solutions. A good comprehensive evaluation & ADHD Test will also identify a person’s strengths. Ultimately, success depends on discovering ways to work around and compensate for areas of relative weakness in an individual and utilize and capitalize on his/her strengths.
An ADHD Test includes behavioral questionnaires, IQ tests, personality tests, tests of cognitive abilities (attention, memory, language ability, spatial ability, reasoning, executive functioning, etc.), and academic testing. Based on this evaluation, a clearer picture will emerge and an individualized treatment plan can be developed.
Reasons to Administer an ADHD Test Include:
- Obtain an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis
- Develop a clear conceptualization of an individual’s behavioral or academic problems
- Recommend behavioral and academic interventions and accommodations
- Evaluate for specific learning problems and clarify cognitive strengths and weaknesses to guide educational and behavioral interventions
Associated Disorders Which Can Cause Similar Symptons as ADHD:
The following is a list of possible psychiatric disorders that could coexist with ADHD or could be responsible for the symptoms also frequently associated with ADHD:
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
- Learning Disability
- Anxiety Disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc.)
- Depressive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS)
