ADHD Screening

ADHD screening is also called ADHD testing. It helps find out if a child, teen, or adult has ADHD. ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

It used to be called ADD (attention-deficit disorder). A person who has ADHD has a hard time paying attention and focusing on tasks. ADHD is a common developmental disorder that begins in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.

Although it's usually diagnosed in childhood, some people with ADHD don't get diagnosed with ADHD until they are adults. There are three types of ADHD: Mostly Inattentive ADHD. People with this type of ADHD have trouble paying attention and are easily distracted.

It's hard for them to organize or finish tasks. They may have trouble following instructions or conversations.; Mostly Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD. People with this type of ADHD have symptoms of both hyperactivity and impulsivity: With hyperactivity, people feel a need to always be moving.

They have trouble sitting still and may fidget and/or talk too much.; With impulsivity, people have trouble controlling their actions and words. They tend to act on sudden ideas or feelings without thinking about the possible results. They may interrupt others a lot or have trouble waiting their turn.; ; Combined ADHD.

People with this type of ADHD have a mix of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Combined ADHD is the most common type.; It's normal to sometimes have trouble paying attention or sitting still, especially for children. But people with ADHD have more severe symptoms that cause serious problems, for example, failing grades for a child or a job loss for an adult.

The symptoms are ongoing and may affect family and social life, too. There's no single test to show whether a person has ADHD. Instead, a health care provider will follow a set of professional guidelines for gathering information, doing tests, and diagnosing the cause of a person's symptoms.

Treatment is available to help people of all ages who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Why this test is done

Your child may need screening if you, a teacher, or another caregiver thinks your child has symptoms of ADHD.

Adults who have had challenges since childhood (before age 12) with focusing, impulsive behavior, restlessness, and/or being organized can ask their providers if they need to be screened for ADHD. The symptoms depend on the type of ADHD a person has.

People with symptoms of attention problems may often:

• Miss details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or in other activities
• Have trouble staying focused on play activities or work tasks
• Not seem to listen when spoken to directly
• Find it hard to follow instructions or finish tasks, or may start but get easily sidetracked
• Have trouble being organized, keeping belongings in order, and managing time
• Avoid doing tasks that require long periods of mental effort
• Lose important items, such as books, wallets, keys, eyeglasses, and cellphones
• Forget about doing daily activities

People with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity may often:

• Fidget and squirm while seated
• Get up when staying seated is expected, such as at school or work
• Run around or climb when it's not appropriate (children) or feel restless (teens and adults)
• Have trouble doing quiet activities
• Be constantly moving or "on the go"
• Talk much more than is normal
• Blurt out answers before questions are completed
• Have trouble waiting for their turn
• Interrupt others for example during conversations or games

People with combined ADHD show a mix of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms.

How to prepare

You usually don't need any special preparations for ADHD screening. Your provider will let you know what health and school records you may need to gather.

Other names for this test

ADHD test