#evaluating adhd

Do you think you might have ADHD?

There are 18 symptoms as described by the DSM and if you have 5 of them, you might have ADHD.  But, and just to be clear, I don’t care about what the DSM describes as symptoms.  If you have read my blog, you know that I follow a very different path to describe what causes ADHD and how it affects you.

So, if you want the DSM test as provided by Attitude Magazine, click here.

If you want to give my test a whirl, then proceed.

The Test

This test requires 2 or more people. 1 being evaluated, and one to score the subject being evaluated.

The person scoring you, will

identify if the event is positive or negative.

watch to see how often you become distracted while listening to the story

will describe what your face looks like while you listen to the story

time how long it takes you to do each complex task.

watch to see how often you become distracted while performing a task

will describe what your face looks like while performing the task

These can be tracked with tick marks on the score card below.

Test 1 - 10 Random Events

Read an emotional story that has a clear positive or negative message. State how you feel emotionally. Perform a complex executive function.  Repeat 10 times

Test 2 - 10 Positive Events

List off 10 positive events in your life, or have someone list 10 positive things that have happened in their life.  State how you feel emotionally.  Select at random a complex negative task.  Is this task something you can do, a challenge, or not?  Perform the task.

Test 3 - 10 Negative Events

List off 10 negative events in your life, or have someone list 10 negative things that have happened in their life.  State how you feel emotionally.  Select at random a complex positive task.  Is this task something you can do, a challenge, or not?  Perform the task.

Score Card

This test tests your emotional range.  An ADHDr expression emotional frustration much sooner than an NT, therefore, you emotional ranges will be hit sooner and affect your ability to execute complex tasks quicker.

How often did you become distracted while listening to negative events?

How often did you remain focused while listening to positive events?

What was your facial expression while listening to a negative event?

What was your facial expression while listening to a positive event?

How long did it take you complete a negative task when it was preceded by a positive event?

How long did it take to complete a positive task when it was preceded by a negative event.

How often did you become distracted while performing a positive task preceded by a negative event?

How often did you become distracted while performing a negative task preceded by a positive event?

What was your facial expression while performing a positive task preceded by a negative event?

What was your facial expression while performing a negative task preceded by a positive event?

Scoring

There are 15 negative and 15 positive events .. 5 randomly and 10 specifically .. for a total of 30 events.  There are 12 tasks to be performed that tested your ability to recall information and coordinate your hands and eyes to complete the tasks.

Focused or Distracted

How often did you become distracted while listening to negative events?

How often did you remain focused while listening to positive events?

ADHDr’s will appear interested and focused on positive stories / events. While, appearing distracted, distant and demonstrating avoidance behavior while listening to negative stories / events. NTs will be equally distracted and focused on the story.

If the combined score is above 25, you are most likely ADHD.

Facial Expression while listening

What was your facial expression while listening to a negative event?

What was your facial expression while listening to a positive event?

ADHDr’s will look away from / avoid negative events. Appear distant or not present.  Conversely, ADHDr’s will focus on / look at positive events. Appear interested and alert.

If the combined score is above 25, you are most likely ADHD.

Timed Tasks

How long did it take you complete a negative task when it was preceded by a positive event?

How long did it take to complete a positive task when it was preceded by a negative event.

ADHDr’s will have a much harder time executing tasks after a negative event. Conversely, after listening to a bunch of positive events, an ADHDr will see a negative task as a challenge or as not be able to perform it at all.   NTs will be able to do the task regardless of what preceded the task.

If the subject was unable to perform the positive task after listening to a negative event, this is an indicator of ADHD.

If the subject was unable to perform the negative task, even after listening to a list of positive events, this is an indicator of ADHD.

If the subject saw the negative task as a challenge, this is an indicator of ADHD.

The longer it takes to perform a task after a negative event, is an indicator of ADHD.

Distracted or Focused on Tasks

How often did you become distracted while performing a positive task preceded by a negative event?

How often did you become distracted while performing a negative task preceded by a positive event?

ADHDr’s will appear interested and focused on positive tasks. While, appearing distracted, distant and demonstrating avoidance behavior on negative tasks. NTs will be equally distracted or focused on the tasks.

If the combined score is above 25, you are most likely ADHD.

Facial Expression While Executing a Task

What was your facial expression while performing a positive task preceded by a negative event?

What was your facial expression while performing a negative task preceded by a positive event?

ADHDr’s will look away from / avoid negative events. Appear distant or not present.  Conversely, ADHDr’s will focus on / look at positive events. Appear interested and alert.If the combined score is above 25, you are most likely ADHD.

Best Practices on Testing

Use 30 videos - 15 positive 15 negative - vs having someone read stories. 

Almost everyone loves stories about kittens and puppies.

Almost everyone hates listening to accident reports, bosses being bullies, and alike.

Prepare the score card above so that tick marks can be put next to each category.

Ask the subject to bring something that the like and dislike into the exam room. This way you can follow their eyes more easily when trying to determine if they are distracted.  Subjects who dislike a negative event will move to the positive object more frequently.

Subjects that are trying to remember how to do something normally look up.

Subjects that are lost in thought look down.

Create a series of tasks based on the strengths and weaknesses and daily tasks of the subject.  These could be the act of washing dishes, sorting & folding laundry, balancing a check book, etc. As you only need 12 tasks, you can have the subject check off 30 tasks that they consider to be fun vs those that they are adverse to, prior to the exam.