ADD computer or verbal tests? | ADHD Information

I've never heard of a computer test or verbal skills test for ADHD though that means nothing. I also thought that insurance usually covered ADHD testing but I'm no insurance expert and it probably depends on your coverage.

Have you taken the Amen test? ( http://amenclinics.com/ac/tests/ )
If you score high on that,  I'd ask for a second opinion.
Random,

coincidentally I took this test today, I was having my neuropsyche evaluation. That test didnt pick up on much for me either. Some slight suggestion of ADD but since my reaction time is fast the computer cut me slack (said the neurologist who was testing me.).

That testwas merely one of 7 or 8 I took. Several of them merely marked me as being on the bottom end of average intelligence and some showed obvious signs of me having ADD.

I dont have a great deal of details as I have to sit with the psychiatrist tomorrow for the final part of this ADD adventure.

Overall I spent about 90 minutes taking various tests that seemed to cover most bases. I'll tell you, there's nothing like taking a test you KNOW is easy but your brain just refuses to work properly for it :)


Did anyone else take a computer "hit the spacebar after the letter unless it's X" or a verbal "repeat the words someone says to you" test as part of an ADD diagnosis?

I went in for a ADD test a while back and those were the two tests they used, and said I did not have ADD because I could hit the spacebar and not be distracted by the open window, and because I could mentally categorize the list of words I was read, yet I am still having a lot of difficulty concentrating and seem to have all the symptoms of ADD inattentive.

Could it have been a bad diagnosis?  Or was it correct?  Are these tests standard?  My insurance company made me pay for all of it so I'm a bit hesistant to get a second opinion given the cost...

Thanks.
I took the Amen full subtype test and this is what I got:

ADD Combined Type

Not Probable more info

ADD Inattentive Type

Highly Probable more info

Cingulate System Hyperactivity

Probable more info

Limbic System Hyperactivity

Probable more info

Basal Ganglia Hyperactivity

Probable more info

Temporal Lobe System

Not Probable more info
Fallen, if you could share what happens with your tests I'd appreciate it.  Thanks.
Hey random,
I took the spacebar test like 6-7 years ago, and the psychiatrist giving it said that based on the results I might or might not have adhd. Then she asked if I would like to take adderall.

Well that was really interesting, here's my results.  I can't wait to get insurance and see a doctor :(

 

ADD Combined Type

Not Probable more info

ADD Inattentive Type

Highly Probable more info

Cingulate System Hyperactivity

Highly Probable more info

Limbic System Hyperactivity

Highly Probable more info

Basal Ganglia Hyperactivity

Probable more info

Temporal Lobe System

May be possible more infoThanks for the information... I found someone in my area who specializes in ADHD and is covered by insurance, so maybe I might get a second opinion.  I'll mention the test results and see what they think.  I'm just kind of confused.  

A therapist friend of mine told me that the spacebar test is really intended to diagnose ADD/ADHD in children and unless meausures are taken to factor in the coping mechanisms that most gain as undiagnosed adults, the results will be skewed.

In my opinion, the best diagnoses will come from a specialist in adult ADD; based on a life history from you and close family/friends accounts along with an obvious impairment in your current work/social setting.  I don't think that there's any possible way that a machine can conclusively diagnose or dismiss ADD/ADHD.  It's far too complex a disorder.

Edit:  My specialist is a therapist, not a psychiatrist.  She trained under Dr. Amen specifically to treat adult ADD/ADHD and has been doing it for 10 years.  Though she can't prescribe meds, there isn't a doc in my town who doesn't take her reccomendations seriously.  Like you, psychiatrists I called wanted 0 to 00 to test.  My diagnoses cost 0..  (Her hourly charge.)  I am (and always have been) very obviously ADHD though, so half way through the 1st session she probably wished she could give me some meds right there just to keep me in my seat!  I was an easy diagnoses, in other words..

Evvy38518.9230208333hi,
I only read the first post so far, but I wanted to write
this before I forget... :)
I got the computer "press the spacebar when you
see an x" test. It's supposed to be very good at
identifying people with ADHD from a mixed group. I
had heard about it before I did it, from several friends
with ADHD, and so I thought that would skew the
results (which is a weird idea, for a bunch of
reasons but mainly that it was part of a really
extensive battery of tests, including of course the
childhood history, for which I talked a lot to my
parents, and got lots of nice long distance bills).
Anyway, I tried really hard to focus on it, and do "well"
(i.e. normal and NOT ADHD) but I ended up scoring
WAAAAY adhd on it, and I remember that several
times I really needed to get up to get my water from
across the room, so I scooted over with my chair and
missed several letters...).
BUT: a friend of mine also had the test as part of his
reevaluation on entering university, and actually
scored not adhd on it, basically getting all the
"targets" - which is a good way to describe it, since
what was happening for HIM is that he hyperfocuses
on VIDEO GAMES! so the whole test was basically
like a video game for him, and they had to retest him
using another method.Got the callback, think I convinced him that at least the symptoms from it were negatively affecting my life.  He offered me a drug called ProVigil but after researching it I declined; it's an expensive experimental drug that hasn't been shown to be effective in treating ADD.  My problem isn't that I feel sleepy so I'm not sure why that drug would help.

The psych thinks that even though I have all the symptoms of ADD inattentive my problem is not a neurotransmitter balance in the prefrontal cortex but rather acquired behavioral problems.  In a way I hope he's right, as effective as a drug may be they all take their toll long-term... I know Adderall can damage your blood vessels and heart with chronic use.

 I'm going to order some more self-help books and see if I can do anything to change my behavior.  My current problem is I just can't stick to any organizational/time management scheme, they work great for about a week though.

It just seems like the whole thing is so fuzzy and imprecise, it'd be nice if I could get a PET scan of brain and know for certain what's going on.
Well, I called the original psych back and am awaiting a callback from him.  Depending on what he says I may or may not go to another one instead... I really didn't appreciate being blown off and offered no explanation when I have 100% of the symptoms of ADD inattentive. [QUOTE=GarbagePailKid]Hey random,
I took the spacebar test like 6-7 years ago, and the psychiatrist giving it said that based on the results I might or might not have adhd. Then she asked if I would like to take adderall.
[/QUOTE]

Did you find it difficult to maintain focus on the test and have a good reaction time to the letters?  I didn't, but I've played video games all my life so I'm very good at stuff like that... not sure if that impacts the test or not... were you distracted by the open window they put the computer by?  I was not.

Thanks.
Random-

I did not find it hard to maintain focus on the test. I also play games often. I am kind of overfocused and overachieving when it comes to tests and games, and did not even know that there was a window in the room. There was a window in the room? It was opened? That's part of the test?

However, at the time, I desperately needed glasses. I had to squint to see the letters. Before the spacebar test, the psychiatrist showed me those flash cards with numbers on them- the ones that have contrasting colors as background- to check for colorblindness. She asked- what number is this? I squinted and said- there is no number. There are just squiggles. She looked at me funny...and asked if I was colorblind.... Then I looked at the card again, real close and said- ah, 36. Or whatever the number was.

Years later, I was given a whole set of tests- parts of IQ tests that are supposed to be especially difficult for adhd people, along with regular IQ tests to contrast the adhd specific IQ with the rest..Or something.... I do not know what the results were because these tests were part of some grad student's research study...and the results were not given out. I would be very curious to know. They sound like what you took - memorizing groups of words and categorizing them...tracing mazes..




Did you bring a detailed history with you to the diagnosis? It seems that most psychiatrists rely heavily on your history in school and at home to make the diagnosis- not the spacebar test.
  Yeah, I can't see anyone with ADD who's played many video games really having a hard time with the computer test, I really question the validity of it...

I didn't bring a detailed history list per se but I discussed it verbally, and went over the difficulty I had in school, difficulty maintaining focus in conversations, at work, poor organizational skills, daydreaming, etc.  But the doctor said due to the results of the computer test and the verbal test I could not possibly have ADD/ADHD.

Is it true that people with ADD/ADHD cannot mentally categorize spoken lists of items at all?  That seemed like a very suspcious absolute to me... but I am not a psychologist.

What I find really frustrating is that the pscyhologist denied I had ADD yet offered no explanation, help, or guidance for a problem that impacts my life very negatively every day... it was basically a "I dunno, sucks to be you, that'll be 0" thing.
Go see someone else...What kind of treatment are you looking for? Meds? Therapy sessions? If all you want is to try meds, your regular doc could probably prescribe.
Or see a different psychiatrist. Do you have health insurance? 500$ is expensive!!
I don't know if I need meds or not, or what kind.  Maybe the guy is right and I don't have ADD -- in which case I'd really like to figure out what I do have.

I'm thinking about calling a different psych as well, just need to dig up the directory of "network providers" here.

I do have insurance but my deductable for "specialists" is k... ouch.

Don't have a regular doctor either, last time I went to a GP was after I had food poisoning for a week and needed antibiotics :)  (my insurance company very generously paid an entire dollar... yes, ... out of that one)