Is Your Child's Behavior Due to ADHD? Take This ADHD Test to Find Out

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, or a combination of both. It can present in different ways, and it's harder to detect ADHD in some than others. 

A true diagnosis of ADHD can only come from a professional. If you notice ADHD symptoms in yourself or a child, it's important that you look for a professional ADHD assessment from a provider in your area.

While an online ADHD screening is not a diagnosis, it can help you take the first steps toward identifying ADHD and the need for an evaluation. After getting a diagnosis, kids can acquire the coping skills, self-understanding, and treatment they need early in life, which can be game-changing.

This article will define ADHD, discuss common symptoms of the disorder, and provide a child and adult ADHD test so that you can identify symptoms in yourself or your child. We'll also talk about why early detection matters with ADHD, including the impact untreated ADHD can have on daily life.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder. ADHD comes in different forms, including primarily hyperactive/impulsive, primarily inattentive, and combined type ADHD. Common symptoms of ADHD in kids include trouble listening when spoken to directly, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, or signs of hyperactivity or impulsivity, like blurting things out in class, very high energy levels, or trouble sitting still.

Children with ADHD are often detected when parents or teachers notice trouble at school. Some kids get overlooked; particularly if they're well-behaved or get good grades. While ADHD is chronic, the way it looks in adulthood can shift. Here's an ADHD self-test, symptoms professionals look for while diagnosing, and what symptoms can look like in kids vs. adults.

Symptoms of ADHD 

One of the tough parts about diagnosing ADHD can be that it looks different for everyone. A mental health professional who is qualified to diagnose ADHD will know what to look for, especially if they have experience working with a person's age group or gender. The following self-test includes common ADHD symptoms that may indicate the need for an ADHD assessment in yourself or a child.

ADHD self-test

Do you or your child experience:

• Trouble completing multi-step tasks, including getting side-tracked or losing focus during the activity?
• Trouble completing tasks that require sustained attention, or avoidance of these tasks (e.g., homework and paperwork)?
• Trouble waiting for your turn, during conversations or other activities?
• Trouble staying seated or focused during school, work meetings, and other prolonged activities where you're expected to sit and concentrate?
• Trouble remembering obligations, such as appointments (e.g., double-booking yourself, missing a doctor's appointment due to forgetfulness)?
• Trouble remembering information (e.g., what one learns at school)?
• Being easily distracted by external stimuli? 
• Spacing out or daydreaming?
• Fidgeting or squirming?
• Talking excessively? 
• Restlessness?

It can also be helpful for those seeking an adult ADHD self-test or an ADHD test for their child to understand common challenges faced among those with ADHD that aren’t necessarily part of the diagnosis. For example, people with ADHD are more likely to face sleep issues like insomnia compared to the general population. It’s also important to keep in mind that while many of these symptoms can appear in individuals with ADHD, some of them may also reflect other ongoing problems which is why it is so critical to receive an assessment from  a qualified health provider to determine whether symptoms are problematic, due to ADHD, or something else entirely.

Common signs professionals look for when diagnosing 

When diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, professionals use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). As a result, they'll most often look for ADHD symptoms such as:

• Common manifestations of inattention.some text
  • Getting distracted easily, forgetfulness, disorganization, trouble sustaining focus during tasks, or going “off-task” frequently and unintentionally. 
• Common manifestations of hyperactivity or impulsivity.some text
  • Restlessness (in adults and adolescents) or running about when one is not supposed to (in kids), blurting out statements or answers to questions, interrupting others, acting as though one is always on the go or is driven by a motor, fidgeting, or excessive talking. 

The reason it can be helpful to find a mental health professional or related provider experienced in working with specific populations, such as women and girls or individuals with a co-occurring mental health condition, for your or your child's ADHD symptoms is that they'll be able to scope out how symptoms may differ compared to others and how they affect your day-to-day life. Additionally, as noted above they are trained to determine whether a symptom is due to ADHD or something else entirely.

How to consider the severity of symptoms to understand ADHD vs. normal traits 

One of the things professionals look for when diagnosing any disorder, including ADHD, is whether symptoms impede a person’s daily life or functioning. If your or your child’s symptoms are severe enough that they interfere with activities such as the following, it’s highly recommended that you pursue a professional ADHD assessment. 

• Work or school.
• Social situations and relationships.
• Self-care and personal hygiene.
• Chores and household tasks.

Similar to gender and other factors, considering a person’s age can also help both providers and the general population understand what to look for. 

Signs of ADHD in Children Specifically 

Now that we’ve discussed what a medical or mental health professional might look for during an ADHD assessment, let’s talk about how those symptoms can differ based on age and type of ADHD, starting with kids.

Inattention symptoms

Those seeking an ADHD diagnosis for children who have what's likely a primarily inattentive presentation of the disorder must remember that not all kids with ADHD are hyperactive. Kids with primarily inattentive ADHD might actually be slower-moving in some cases and may experience symptoms such as:

• Daydreaming.
• Losing concentration during tasks.
• Difficulty listening when being spoken to directly.
• Making seemingly careless mistakes during schoolwork, chores, and other activities.

It’s also possible to experience a combination of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms or to experience primarily hyperactivity and impulsivity-related symptoms.

Hyperactivity symptoms

Hyperactivity symptoms will often be more easily detected in a child's ADHD screening. Kids may present with overt hyperactivity symptoms such as:

• Running about when the child is expected to remain seated.
• Acting as though they're "driven by a motor" or are "always on the go.”
• Talking too much, perhaps in inappropriate situations (e.g., not knowing when to stop talking in social situations).
• Fidgeting or squirming.

During an ADHD assessment, providers will take note of whether a child has trouble with things like sitting still or remaining seated in proportion to their age and developmental stage.

Impulsivity symptoms

Looking for impulsivity symptoms is another part of any ADHD assessment. In kids, impulsivity may look like:

• Dangerous or risky behavior.
• Intense emotional reactions to frustration or criticism.
• Trouble taking turns during play or in conversations.

Kids struggling with impulsivity may say things they don't mean or act aggressively and regret it only once the action is done and they've processed the behavior. An appropriate treatment plan can help, regardless of the way ADHD presents. Parents work with healthcare providers to help determine the right treatment plan for their kids.

Signs of ADHD in Adults Specifically 

We used to assume that ADHD symptoms dissipate in adulthood. Now, we know that that's not the case; ADHD adults may show symptoms differently, and those who went most of their lives without an ADHD diagnosis may have learned to "mask" ADHD. 

Make no mistake; adult ADHD can have a severe impact on your life. Here are some of the symptoms you might notice on an adult ADHD self-test.

Inattention symptoms

Inattention symptoms can be extremely disruptive to adult life. Even if you’re no longer in school, you may notice symptoms such as the following: 

• Misplacing important items (like keys or your cell phone) often.
• Showing up to work, social obligations, or other activities late. 
• Trouble with or avoidance of tasks like paperwork that require sustained mental effort. 
• Forgetfulness during daily activities, like errands, work, or returning calls.
• Poor time management.
• Distractibility. 

If you are not receiving treatment, you may attempt to self-medicate. This can be true for people with any type of ADHD.

Hyperactivity symptoms

Signs of hyperactivity can differ in adults vs. kids. Adults may internalize hyperactivity more or show it primarily through things like their speech and jumping from one task to another excitedly. Symptoms may include but aren’t limited to the following:

• Talking excessively (more than others).
• Interrupting others (e.g., interrupting while a friend is mid-sentence).
• Restlessness. 

Some, but not all, will appear to have more energy than others or continue to experience the “driven by a motor” symptomatology often seen in kids. Impulsivity symptoms might also affect adults and can have a serious impact on adult life.

Impulsivity symptoms

Adults with unmanaged impulsivity can endure financial, relational, and other consequences. Here are some of the ways it can present. 

• Intruding on other people’s conversations or activities (e.g., “butting into” a conversation you hear while in line at the store).
• Spending money recklessly (or other impulsive behaviors that may not have been thought through, especially dopamine-seeking behaviors).
• Impulsive decisions, such as saying “yes” to something before you think it through.

Other symptoms, like impatience (e.g., trouble waiting in line), are also common in some adults with ADHD. 

Why Early Detection is Important

Especially in previous decades, ADHD often went undiagnosed. Now, more people are getting adequate diagnoses, which is why ADHD can sometimes seem “more prevalent” than it was before. The same is true for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Those pursuing ADHD testing for adults may have been misdiagnosed with a mental condition, or ADHD may have been overlooked in spite of other concerns getting diagnosed. 

Impact of untreated ADHD on daily life

Awareness that one has ADHD often means that they understand themselves better, use tools like Joon and structured daily routines, or gain access to treatments like medication. Those unaware that they have ADHD may experience the following challenges more intensely than those with a proper diagnosis and treatment.

• Trouble in interpersonal relationships.
• Having a tough time keeping up with self-care or household responsibilities.
• Feeling misunderstood; hearing things like "just focus," "apply yourself," or wondering why you struggle more than others with the same things.
• Difficulty at work or school. People with untreated ADHD may struggle to maintain employment, miss deadlines, face challenges like lateness, or make seemingly careless mistakes. Sometimes, this can lead to over-compensation or anxiety. 
• Additional or worsened mental health problems. One may have a co-occurring mental health condition or struggle with emotion regulation, especially without adequate coping skills. 

If you're an adult who suspects that you have ADHD, you likely know this all too well or are coming to realize it. ADHD test cost is a common barrier people face when seeking an ADHD evaluation for themselves or a child. Health insurance can help you pay for the cost of an ADHD test. Some spaces, such as universities, may have free or low-cost testing services.

Benefits of early intervention and treatment

Lack of detection and treatment for ADHD can come with serious consequences. Notably, lower levels of substance abuse are seen in people who get appropriate treatment for ADHD. Other benefits of early intervention include but are not limited to having an easier time at school, work, and in social relationships and having the tools necessary to cope with ADHD symptoms. Better overall mental health is also associated with treatment for ADHD in those who have the condition.

Conclusion

If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of ADHD that interfere with daily life, seeking an ADHD evaluation is integral. To get a professional ADHD screening in your area, ask a medical doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist for a referral or recommendation. You can also call your insurance company to find an ADHD testing center near you that's covered by insurance.

Online ADHD tests like the ones in this article can help parents and individuals detect common symptoms of ADHD in their child or themselves, which is often the first step to seeking a professional ADHD assessment and diagnosis. 

Using The Joon App is an excellent way to support kids with diagnosed or suspected ADHD and related disorders - or even no disorder at all. By using Joon, kids can increase self-esteem, independence, and better functioning in day-to-day life. 

Click here to try Joon for free.