Are you seeing signs of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity that is impacting their daily performance?
Testing for ADHD in Children and Students.
There are many reasons why a student may struggle with attention and focus. The best practice when testing a child for ADHD is not just diagnosing but also understanding how that ADHD impacts academic skills, social skills, and emotional wellbeing. We want to be sure that we are getting to the root of the problem and ensure that no other learning disabilities or processing issues are present.
Note: ADHD can impact many aspects of a students life including mental health, quality of life, friendships, and academic abilities.
There are 3 types of ADHD
What are the signs and symptoms of each ADHD type?
It's important to understand that historically, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) were viewed as separate diagnoses. In the past, diagnosing ADD focused solely on inattentive symptoms, often typified by what many would describe as "daydreaming" behavior. Conversely, ADHD was primarily associated with hyperactivity. Over time, advancements in diagnostic evaluations have prompted a shift in terminology. Today, the term ADD is no longer used or recognized. ADHD is recognized as the primary diagnosis, encompassing three distinct subtypes to better reflect the diverse differences within the disorder. The following are the characteristics for those 3 subtypes:
ADHD:
Predominantly Inattentive Type
- Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
- Has difficulty sustaining attention.
- Does not appear to listen.
- Struggles to follow through on instructions.
- Has difficulty with organization.
- Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.
- Loses things.
- Is easily distracted.
- Is forgetful in daily activities.
ADHD:
Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
- Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.
- Has difficulty remaining seated.
- Runs about or climbs excessively.
- Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.
- Acts as if driven by a motor.
- Talks excessively.
- Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
- Difficulty waiting or taking turns.
- Interrupts or intrudes upon others.
ADHD:
Combined Type
Individual meets both inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.
Understanding ADHD Testing
What information is neccesary to test my child for Attention Defecit?
The following information is not only essential for a proper diagnosis, but to also understand the impact of that diagnosis.
- Child’s History: Gathered through parent input, teacher input, and self-report (age permitting).
- Learning and Processing Assessment: Evaluating how the student learns and processes information.
- Academic Skills Assessment: Identifying gaps that may cause or result from inattention.
- Behavior Rating Scales: Covering executive functioning, signs of depression and anxiety, and relationships with peers and parents. Surveys may be sent to parents and teachers.
- Objective Measure: Comparing the child’s activity, attention, and impulsivity to peers of the same age.
- Observations: During the evaluation process, including input from parents and teachers.
- Medical Conditions: Ruling out any potential medical causes.
Tip: In the past, evaluations were done using a symptom survey only, often leading to misdiagnosis.
The Qb Check
As part of the comprehensive online evaluation for ADHD, we administer the Qb Check, an objective measure of attention, impulsivity, and activity level. Click here for information about the Qb Check.
Note: eDiagnostic Learning uses the QB Check as an FDA approved objective measure that is designed to go with additional subjective measures.