attention deficit disorder (add/adhd) test -...
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Test Based upon the DSM-5 criteria
and other screening measures for ADD/ADHD Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
Use this quiz to help determine if you need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis
and treatment of ADD or ADHD as an adult.
Instructions: Simply answer the questions on how you have behaved and felt during the
past 6 months. Take your time and answer truthfully for the most accurate results.
I am a year old Female / Male
1. How often do you have difficulty sustaining your attention while doing
something for work, school, a hobby, or fun activity (e.g., remaining focused
during lectures, lengthy reading or conversations)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
2. How often are you easily distracted by external stimuli, like something in your
environment or unrelated thoughts?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
3. How often do you avoid, dislike, or are reluctant to engage in tasks that require
sustained mental effort or thought?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
4. How often do you have trouble listening to someone, even when they are
speaking directly to you, like your mind is somewhere else?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
5. How often do you have difficulty in organizing an activity or task needing to get
done (e.g., poor time management, fails to meet deadlines, difficulty managing
sequential tasks)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
6. How often do you fail to give close attention to details, or make careless
mistakes in things such as schoolwork, at work, or during other activities?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
7. How often do you forget to do something you do all the time, such as missing an
appointment or paying a bill?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
8. How often do you lose, misplace or damage something that's necessary in order
to get things done (e.g., your phone, eyeglasses, paperwork, wallet, keys, etc.)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
9. How often do you have trouble following through on instructions, or failing to
finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., you start a task but
quickly lose focus and are easily sidetracked)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Part 2 For Adults
Instructions: Continue to answer the questions on how you have behaved and felt during
the past 6 months.
10. How often are you unable to play or engage in leisurely activities quietly?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
11. How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn, such as while waiting in
line?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
12. How often do you feel like you're "on the go," acting as if you're "driven by a
motor" (e.g., you're unable to be or uncomfortable being still for an extended
period of time, such as in a restaurant or a meeting)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
13. How often do you leave your seat in situations when remaining seated is
expected (e.g., leaving your place in the office or workplace)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
14. How often do you blurt out an answer before a question has been completed
(e.g., completing another person's sentence or can't wait your turn in a
conversation)?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
15. How often do you feel restless -- like you want to get out and do something?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
16. How often do you fidget with or tap your hands or feet, or squirm in your
seat?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
17. How often do find yourself talking excessively?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
18. How often do you interrupt or intrude on others, such as butting into their
conversation or taking over what others are doing?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
19. Were several of the symptoms present prior to age 12?
No Yes
20. Do the symptoms appear in at least two or more settings (e.g., at home and
school)?
No Yes
10 Problems That Could Mean Adult ADHD Save This Article For Later
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Many people think of rowdy kids who can’t sit still when they think ofADHD. But
symptoms of ADHD can sometimes linger into adulthood. Lots of adults with ADHD
don’t realize that many of the problems they face, including staying organized or being
on time, are symptoms of adult ADHD.
What Causes Adult ADHD?
While experts don’t know for sure what causes ADHD, they think genes may play an
important part. Environmental issues, such as exposure to cigarettes, alcohol, or other
toxins while in the womb, may also play a role.
Unlike other psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, ADHD doesn't
begin in adulthood. Symptoms must have been present since childhood for a diagnosis
of adult ADHD to be made.
10 Problems That Could Mean Adult ADHD
The conventional symptoms doctors look for to diagnose ADHD are based on how the
condition shows itself in children.
These symptoms include forgetfulness and excessive daydreaming, as well as an
inability to sit still, or constant fidgeting with objects.
Yet many experts think adult ADHD symptoms show themselves differently and more
subtly. This can make it hard to recognize and diagnose adult ADHD. Because some
possible symptoms -- like poor concentration or motivation, or interpersonal problems --
also could be signs of other psychiatric conditions (like depression or substance abuse),
it's important that you get examined by a trained and experienced mental health
professional.
Here are 10 potential warning signs of adult ADHD:
No. 1: Trouble Getting Organized
For people with ADHD, the responsibilities of adulthood -- bills, jobs, and children, to
name a few -- can make problems with organization more obvious and more
problematic than in childhood.
No. 2: Reckless Driving and Traffic Accidents
ADHD makes it hard to keep your attention on a task, so spending time behind the
wheel of a car can be hard. ADHD symptoms can make some people more likely to
speed, have traffic accidents, and lose their driver’s licenses.
No. 3: Marital Trouble
Many people without ADHD have marital problems, so a troubled marriage shouldn’t
necessarily be seen as a red flag for adult ADHD. But there are some marriage
problems that are likely to affect the relationships of those with ADHD. Often, the
partners of people with undiagnosed ADHD take poor listening skills and an inability to
honor commitments as a sign that their partner doesn’t care. If you’re the person with
ADHD, you may not understand why your partner is upset, and you may feel you’re
being nagged or blamed for something that’s not your fault.
No. 4: Extremely Distractible
ADHD is a problem with attention, so adult ADHD can make it hard to succeed in
today’s fast-paced, hustle-bustle world. Many people find that distractibility can lead to a
history of career under-performance, especially in noisy or busy offices. If you have
adult ADHD, you might find that phone calls or email derails your attention, making it
hard for you to finish tasks.
No. 5: Poor Listening Skills
Do you zone out during long business meetings? Did your husband forget to pick up
your child at baseball practice, even though you called to remind him on his way home?
Problems with attention result in poor listening skills in many adults with ADHD, leading
to a lot of missed appointments and misunderstandings.
No. 6: Restlessness, Trouble Relaxing
While many children with ADHD are “hyperactive,” this ADHD symptom often appears
differently in adults. Rather than bouncing off the walls, adults with ADHD are more
likely to be restless or find they can’t relax. If you have adult ADHD, others might
describe you as edgy or tense.
No. 7: Trouble Starting a Task
Just as children with ADHD often put off doing homework, people with adult ADHD often
drag their feet when starting tasks that require a lot of attention. This procrastination
often adds to existing problems, including marital disagreements, workplace issues, and
problems with friends.
No. 8: Lateness
There are many reasons for this. First, adults with ADHD are often distracted on the
way to an event, maybe realizing the car needs to be washed and then noticing they’re
low on gas, and before they know it an hour has gone by. People with adult ADHD also
tend to underestimate how much time it takes to finish a task, whether it’s a major
assignment at work or a simple home repair.
No. 9: Angry Outbursts
ADHD often leads to problems with controlling emotions. Many people with adult ADHD
are quick to explode over minor issues. Often, they feel as if they have no control over
their emotions. Many times, their anger fades as quickly as it flared, long before the
people who dealt with the outburst have gotten over the incident.
No. 10: Prioritizing Issues
Often, people with adult ADHD mis-prioritize, failing to meet big obligations, like a
deadline at work, while spending countless hours on something insignificant, such as
getting a higher score on a video game.