EXPERT WITNESSES & PSYCHOLOGISTS - ADVANCED ASSESSMENTS LIMITED
ADHD Assessments
ADHD Test & ADHD Assessment by Expert Psychologists
Psychologists and Expert Witnesses we prepare psychological reports for legal, education and employment needs. We carry out dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, ADHD and mental health assessments ─ in addition to assessments of learning disability. We are video-enabled and have the facility to carry out robust online psychological assessments and online medicolegal reports.
EXPERT WITNESSES & PSYCHOLOGISTS - ADVANCED ASSESSMENTS LIMITED
ADHD Assessments
ADHD Test & ADHD Assessment by Expert Psychologists
Psychologists and Expert Witnesses we prepare psychological reports for legal, education and employment needs. We carry out dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, ADHD and mental health assessments ─ in addition to assessments of learning disability. We are video-enabled and have the facility to carry out robust online psychological assessments and online medicolegal reports.
Table Of Contents
ADHD Test
Do you think you may need an ADHD test? Individuals with ADHD can often forget to complete important tasks including homework. They might act without thinking and show signs of inattention. Another common symptom of ADHD is the inability to keep still. Individuals may be hyperactive.
An ADHD test can help determine if you or your child has ADHD. Because ADHD is a disability, people with ADHD are entitled to reasonable adjustments (accommodations or access arrangements) in examinations. Children with ADHD should have additional support at school on an ongoing basis. This support can be incorporated into their Educational and Health Care Plan (EHCP).
People at university with ADHD are entitled to Disabled Students Allowance for extra time and specialist support such as specialist tutors; and information technology applications that help students who have ADHD improve their study skills and ultimately examination results.
“An ADHD test is used to determine whether the symptoms are ADHD or other conditions such as learning disabilities, dyslexia, reactions to significant life events, psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. These conditions may often coexist with ADHD. It is also essential to distinguish whether the individual has a behavioural disorder such as conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder. Finally, it is crucial to eliminate other medical conditions such as thyroid problems, neurological conditions, epilepsy and sleep disorders before a diagnosis of ADHD is made.”
ADHD Assessments by Expert Psychologists
Advanced assessments Ltd uses a comprehensive and robust ADHD assessment process. The assessment process involves a two-hour clinical interview with a Chartered Psychologist, completion of self-assessment forms and in most cases the completion of rating forms by another person that knows the person who is being assessed.
Observations of the individual concerned are carried out, and their behaviour is evaluated against the symptoms of ADHD that are set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Fifth Edition). The expert psychologist might use the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA), or the ADHD Child Evaluation Diagnostic Interview for Children.At the end of the process, a detailed report is produced. More information about our ADHD Assessments can be found by following this link.
Cognitive assessments are also carried out as part of the ADHD test, to examine issues such as how the individual with ADHD processes information. Our expert psychologists use the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Fourth UK Edition) for adults or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Fifth UK edition). Because some individuals with ADHD also have problems with their working memory, we carry out assessments of working memory using the Wechsler Memory Scale (Fourth UK Edition) in the case of adults and the Test of Memory and Learning (Second Edition) for children.
Our ADHD tests also include an assessment of executive functioning; we use the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BREIF2). This test allows us to obtain information from the individual, and someone who knows the individual well to gather information about the executive function of the individual who is undergoing the ADHD assessment. We examine behavioural regulation, emotion regulation and cognitive regulation with this test.
Our expert psychologists also use the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (Third Edition) to obtain information from the individual about how they function, socially, cognitively, at work, and with respect to health and safety.
The ADHD assessment also uses one of two other gold standard ADHD tests. For children, we use the Conners 3. For Adults, we use the Connors Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). This allows us to obtain information from the individual, and other people that know the individual well about their symptoms. It also allows us to determine whether the individual has other conditions such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder.
ADHD Symptoms
“In examination settings, individuals with ADHD are very easily distracted. Many of the individuals that we assess failed to read the examination questions properly and answer a different question than the one which was asked by the examiner. Some individuals process information very slowly. People with ADHD are often said to be impulsive, disorganised and had difficulty setting priorities. They may exhibit poor time management skills.”
It is essential to recognise that the symptoms in individuals with ADHD vary. The diagnosis has now been refined to combine what was called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) into one category Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Individuals are classified as having either a combined presentation; a predominantly inattentive presentation; or a predominantly hyperactive presentation.
The Key Symptoms of ADHD Are as Follows:
Inattention ― (a minimum of six of the following symptoms):
- Frequently does not pay attention and makes many mistakes at school or at work which may appear careless.
- Frequently finds it hard to focus and pay attention when carrying out academic work, playing or during other tasks.
- Frequently fails to listen when others are talking to the individual (they seem to daydream).
- Frequently does not finalise academic work or tasks at work.
- Frequently fails to participate in tests that need focused intellectual or mental effort.
- Frequently misplaces things for important projects such as key materials for schoolwork and other important items needed to function on a day-to-day basis.
- Is frequently side-tracked by other things that might be happening or thoughts that may flash across their mind.
- Frequently forgets to complete tasks, fails to attend appointments or pay bills.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity ― a minimum of six of the following symptoms:
Frequently fidgets; moves around in their seat or taps their hands.
- Frequently does not stay in their seat at times when staying in their place is expected, such as during the workplace or in class.
- Frequently climbs or runs when they should not do. Adults or young people may continually feel restless.
- Frequently finds it impossible to participate in games or other leisurely activities without making a lot of noise.
- Is frequently always on the go, seeming as if they have uncontrollable energy.
- Frequently never seems to stop talking.
- Frequently gives the answer before another person has finished answering the question; seems to interrupt other people during conversations.
- Frequently struggles to wait their turn in a queue.
- Frequently intrudes or barges into other people’s activities, conversations or tries to take control of what other people are doing without being invited to do so.
Positive Characteristics of ADHD and Famous People with ADHD
There are lots of positive characteristics that arise from ADHD such as a high level of motivation, energy and drive. ADHD brings endless creativity and flexibility. Individuals with ADHD are often highly spontaneous.
There are many famous people with ADHD; neurodiversity brings many positive benefits.
Learn More About the ADHD Test and ADHD Assesments
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – NHS
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Wikipedia
- ADHD – Young Minds
- ADHD Foundation
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | Mental Health Foundation
- Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – Symptoms
- ADHD in adults | Royal College of Psychiatrists
- ADHD in Children – HelpGuide