How it Works

How Do We Accurately Test For ADHD/ADD?

ADHD is one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. It is most often diagnosed in infancy and persists long into adulthood.

Children or adults with ADHD can struggle to pay attention, control impulsive behaviours (acting without considering the consequences), or be too active.

Symptom checks and interviews and a detailed medical history and examinations for disorders typically diagnosed alongside ADD, such as ODD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder, are part of the comprehensive ADHD diagnosis for our patients.

It’s a lengthy procedure, as it should be, to ensure accuracy.

What Is the Process for Diagnosing ADHD?

ADHD symptoms cannot be diagnosed purely based on tests.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) is a complex neurological disorder with three subtypes, symptoms that range in severity, and overlapping comorbid conditions that can make diagnosis and treatment difficult.

 

How Do You Get a Diagnosis for ADHD?

A regular visit to one of our highly trained physicians may begin an assessment for ADHD (or ADD), but it is unlikely to end there.

Most general practitioners are either untrained or unequipped to conduct the in-depth assessment needed to diagnose ADHD and its overlapping conditions.

And this is why we ensure that our physicians are highly trained and are ready to put in the work to give you the ultimate care.

Furthermore, general practitioners are prone to overlooking co-existing or comorbid conditions with similar symptoms, such as learning disabilities, mood disorders, or autism spectrum disorder.

Screening for these issues is conducted daily by our professional clinicians who are skilled in diagnosing ADHD.

A clinical interview to gather the patient’s medical history is the first step in any successful ADHD diagnosis.

We also combined it with neuropsychological testing, which provides more information about strengths and weaknesses and aids in detecting comorbid conditions.

ADHD Diagnosis

Step 1: Consultation

If you or your child is to being examined, one of our doctors will speak with you and your child and collect input from teachers and other people who spend a lot of time with your child through checklists and written records.

If you are being examined, the doctor will interview you and someone familiar with you, such as your partner, a friend, or parents. He or She may or may not use similar checklists for detecting adult ADHD symptoms.

The doctor will use the interview to decide which tests are necessary to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.

 

Step 2: ADHD Tests

Completing one or more of the ADHD rating scales and other ADHD assessments is a standard component of most clinical interviews.

A proper ADHD examination should assess whether a person has ADHD and rule out or recognize other concerns such as learning disabilities, autism, auditory processing disorders, or mood disorders.

Tests can take anywhere from an hour to more than eight hours, depending on your doctor’s concerns.

Standard tests used in diagnosing ADHD include:

Qbtest

Qbtest is an FDA approved and widely used test that is used in measuring activity, attention, and impulsivity

The test is a computer-based test that is known for combining attention measurements with an activity analysis based on a motion tracking system

It is one of the major tests used in diagnosing ADHD

Go/No Go Task

The Go/No Go task is a cognitive test function that is aimed at determining the ability of a kid to inhibit an inappropriate response

In other words, this task measures response inhibition

The Go/No Go tasks are used to measure a patient’s ability to sustain attention and response control

Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification is also referred to as deferred gratification

It is the realization of self-control and psychological maturity as well

It is the resistance to the temptation of an immediate pleasure in the hope of getting a reliable and long-lasting reward in the long run

In other words, it is the process that kids (e.g., those with ADHD) undergo whereby the kid resist the urge of an immediate reward in preference for a later reward

Brain Scan

Particle emission tomography (PET) scans, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have long been used in ADHD science.

However, their use in the diagnosis of ADHD has yet to be proven by conclusive clinical studies.

However, they also discovered that some brain areas in people with ADHD tend to be different than in people who do not have ADHD.

Step 3: Learning How to Manage Symptoms

Then, the doctor will call you into the office after the clinical interview, and prescribed evaluations are done to go over the results of your ADHD assessment. You can use this time to ask questions from the doctor

When you leave your appointment, the doctor should have devised a strategy for dealing with the symptoms. It should contain the following:

• A list of work (or school) accommodations that will help you (or your child) perform better.
• A schedule for follow-up therapy with a psychologist, therapist, ADHD mentor, or other professional
• Recommendations for ADHD treatment if it is deemed appropriate.
• A calendar of follow-up meetings with the diagnosing physician or the primary-care physician to assess the treatment plan’s effectiveness.