How do doctors test for ADD?

Question

My mom is taking me to the doctors on wednesday as she think i may have ADD. She thinks i have it because i have a very short attention span, switch from task to task all the time, cannot stay in a conversation for a long time and stuff like that.

Im just curious, how do doctors actually test for ADD?

Answer 1

The doctor will talk to you for 60 seconds then he/she will ask you a  simple question.  If you say ,  what  or answer the question talking about Yahoo then you definitely will be diagnosed with ADD.

Answer 2

they just do a bunch of tests on your brain and such

Answer 3

when i was tested they made me look at a computer and it was a black screen and white letters would com up and you were supposed to click if a letter came up just not an x or something like that and it went on for like 15 minutes. it sounds easy but its hard to focus for that long.

Answer 4

If you have insurance, you have ADD.

Answer 5

I went to the psychologist(which I'd recommend you get a referral for) and took a 60 question test. The psychologist looked over the results and scored the test. It didn't show I had ADD but turns out I have a short attention span and slight depression. I'd asking the doctor to do some testing, and be honest on the test. Your guidance counselor or school psychologist should be able to help you with that.

I was in the office for about an hour, 15mins to take the test, 10mins to score the test, and 45 mins going over the test question by question.

Best of Luck.

Answer 6

They don't give needles, they just ask your parents questions on your behavior, your grades at school and how is your attention span is like.  

They also do a standard question test, some reading, math, and maybe some matching games, My daughter was 8 or 9 when I found out she had ADD, she  is now 15.  I did some research and found that liquid form Vitamin B complex worked for her.   Vitamin B complex stimuatles parts of the brain, which are not being stimulated on its own.  I did have her on meds, but she was having trouble sleeping and eating. So I took her off them.   For many years we bought the vitamins and has done very well with them.  I can't say that it will work for you, since everyone is different, but at least it's worth a try.  I won't hurt you, just help you.  Good Luck!

Answer 7

my psychologist tested me for ADD/ADHD with this kind of computer game and it was just like a black screen and it flashed letters, and you had to press the space bar every time you saw a letter, unless it was an X, then you didnt do anything. it went on forever though because the point was to bore you so you would not pay attention.  and ADD is a real condition.. dont listen to that person that said it isnt.

Answer 8

uh..pretty much they look for the signs such as what you xplained up there. they told me the syptoms and signs etc. and it matched up with my behavior and all of that fun stuff.  btw if you get put on meds take them everyday. i hate it but i swear it helps me. if i skip it really messes me up,

Answer 9

They test the person's nervous system. This is done (in the case of ADD) by placing the person in a chemically induced coma, and sending 500 volt electrosonic pulses through the central nervous system and measuring the consistency of the output.

People can die from this procedure. But nobody is paying attention.

Answer 10

They give you a worksheet and quizes. The pretty much test you. They might even ask you some questions. Be truthful, for your own sake. You'll probably be there for hours just testing.  

Answer 11

This is how they tested me:

They made me sit in a chair in front of a computer. They gave me a button. Every few seconds a picture of a square would flash on the computer screen. Sometimes it was a big square with a small square inside of it. And sometimes it was just a picture of a big empty square. When I saw the big square with a small square inside of it I was supposed to press the button. And if it was the empty square I was supposed to do nothing. They left me alone in the room and made me sit there for about 30 minutes pressing the button.

Its supposed to be boring. And I guess it scores you on how well you pay attention the the squares, and if you press the button every time your supposed to. But it gets pretty hard to pay attention after you've been looking at the same two pictures over and over for 30 minutes.

I don't know if this is how everyone tests for it. But this is how they tested me. And I tested positive for it too... lol  

I don't take any medicine for it though. I don't think its really a real condition. If you have it you shouldn't take meds for it. It'll make you act not normal...

Answer 12

Ask a Doctor.

Answer 13

ADD is not a real condition.  The pharmaceutical companies invented it to get kids hooked on drugs while they're still young.

Tell your mom to get educated and do research before putting you on mind boggling drugs.  

Make sure she doesn't just have a blind faith in the medical community.