What is ADHD Testing?
If you have noticed the symptoms of ADHD, a neuropsychological assessment with a trained psychologist is the gold standard for diagnosing ADHD. ADHD is unlike other health conditions where you draw blood or take an X-Ray to see what is going on inside of you. ADHD is a condition that affects the brain and is characterized by certain patterns of functioning within particular structures in the brain. With the help of extensive research, neuropsychologists have developed a series of tests that assess the functioning of each part of your brain, so we can determine exactly where something is going wrong. These neuropsychological assessment measures involve many questions and tasks that help your psychologist understand your brain's patterns. So, if you have been wondering: “What exactly is the definition of a psychological assessment and what does it entail?” I’m going to break that down for you here.
Steps of a Psychological Test
ADHD is diagnosed through an interview, review of records, and formal neuropsychological testing. The steps of testing for ADHD include:
Ruling out any physical causes for your symptoms (food allergies, thyroid problems, etc.).
An interview where you will be asked about your personal history related to academic, social, emotional, and occupational functioning.
A review of any medical or school records (these can provide further evidence for both the ADHD and the presence of other similar disorders).
Neuropsychological testing involving:
Paper and pencil questionnaires
Problem solving activities
Verbal tasks
There is no need to study or prepare for any of these tests, and there are no right or wrong answers – they are simply measures of your thinking style and response patterns. After the psychologist analyzes your data, you will receive a report of the findings and have an opportunity to meet with your psychologist for an explanation of the implications of the results.
What to Expect During ADHD Testing
Testing consists of a variety of activities that will done with your psychologist. These might include:
Answering questions
Completing hands-on tasks
Writing
Drawing
Completing puzzles
This sounds like a lot…
Testing usually lasts between 2 to 5 hours depending on what diagnoses you are being tested for. But don’t worry, you are always welcome to take as many breaks as you need throughout the testing session to use the bathroom or grab a snack or some water. For testing sessions lasting longer than two hours, a scheduled break will be planned half-way through the testing. On some occasions, testing will be broken up over two separate sessions in order to accommodate schedules.
Who conducts a psychological test?
Testing is completed by a doctoral level psychologist. The same psychologist will interview you, conduct the testing, score and interpret the data, write your report, and meet with you to discuss results.
How to Prepare for a Psychological Test
Do’s:
Bring all requested paperwork completed.
Get a good night’s sleep!
Eat a good breakfast.
In most cases, prescription medications should be taken as usual on the testing day. (However, ADHD medication should not be taken.)
Dont’s:
Staying up very late the night before the test.
Having caffeine the night before the test.
Deviating too from your normal routine.
Taking ADHD medication
Consume alcohol or ingest any other substances within 24 hours of your testing session.
If you’re still not quite sure if you might need a psychological test, you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with a doctoral level psychologist today.
