How do they test for ADHD?? | ADHD Information

Hey! So that's it...
I need another spouse.
So I can lose her, too.


Subject Topic: How do they test for ADHD??
OMG!...What if they use needles?

Although everyone feels SOME of those symptoms - the trick to being ADHD is that it must both A) be happening since childhood and B) affect harmfully 3 to 6 areas of your life extremely (i.e. sex life, social, work, etc.).  If it never harmed you - it's most likely not ADHD.  If it never hit in childhood - ditto.

Every person feels a bit scatterbrained or out of focus sometimes - but for the normal person that doesn't harm their life like it does for us.  They never lose jobs and spouses over it.  We certainly do!!

normall chrisr - the MD sends you to a psychiatrist who then asks you a long string of questions designed as much to rule OUT other illnesses as to rule IN ADHD.  It should take anywhere from a half hour to a couple of hours.

At www.oneaddplace.com there are links to a couple good tests.  2 of them are nearly identical to the questions my psychiatrist asked me to begin.

Too few questions make me feel like you get less help in the long run.  There needs to be a real diagnosis or you could have bipolar or even a thyroid condition.  Don't settle for less.

i know what u mean, when i went in just about 2 weeks ago, i went in for something else, and decided to tell the doc i am done with anti depressants, they do NOTHING for me but make me sick if i miss a pill, and i was on Paxill this last time, but this was a doctor i had never seen in this office and he talked to me for about an hour and he really felt i should try Adderall that i have ADD, the kind where you dont have the hyperness. I must say now that most of the paxxill side affects have worn off, i think i can fully concentrate on what my body is doing and say it is the adderall, but i dunno, i am giving it a month and see. it doesnt feel like a mircale drug to me, but i still odnt think there is one out there, ADD or not, thanks for your input!!

Chris

GlenW

WOW thanks for the link, i took one of the tests and i really thought about it, didnt exagerrate, and i very definately as far as the test goes have been diagnosed correctly, but it almost seems like the entire world should be diagnosed then dont you think? Can it really be different??? or am i just being pesamistic?

Chris

I was rading lazygirls post and i wondered, about this test thing, i simply went to my family doctor to get off of Paxxil,and threw a series of questions and discussing how ky kids are ADHD and how they are finding sometimes genetics may play a part, he said i have ADD, how about you guys?

chris r

To make a long story short, I suspected I had ADD, took an online quiz that showed I probably had ADD, and then I brought the quiz to my family doctor who read the whole thing over with me.  She said I could go have a bunch of psychiatric testing done but she felt from my history and the quiz "about 99% sure" I had ADD and recommended a trial of meds.  She felt my response to meds would pretty much determine if that was it.  I was so afraid she would think I was a hypochondriac or something but she was great.  She hugged me and took her time talking to me and I am just so glad I have this doctor.  When I read about what some people go through with insensitive doctors I realize how lucky I am.  But here I go again getting off track and making a short story long.

About 10 years ago my ex and I went in for marital counseling. They pointed the finger at me (I thought it took two to tango, too?). So, the focus was centered on the one with "the wildest ADHD I have ever seen". Resisted the dx, but then was forced to take an ADHDer test, and flunked. Been on Ritalin + others ever since (going on 9 years). Magic stuff. I still got divorced... I've always felt depressed and hard time focusing at school. All my life I've had a hard time with relationships, jobs, family, etc. I went to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with mild depression. I took Paxil and felt better. I moved and saw another Dr. and felt the Paxil was not working so they tried Zoloft. I tried that for awhile and didn't work, so then tried Celexa.

Finally, a new Dr. diagnosed me with PTSD (post tramatic stress syndrome) with maybe a chance of AD/HD. I saw a therapist for EMDR to help get over the PTSD. Finally after a year, I went back and told the Dr. I have some problems with AD/HD so she gave me Strattera, big mistake. So she gave me Adderall.. , good drug. So I think it's all trial and error. No one really knows, the brain is to comlex!