What Is Involved in an ADD Assessment?

by | Oct 24, 2017 | Psychotherapist

Many people are familiar with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but have you heard of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)? As the name implies, ADD is ADHD without the “H,” that is, without the hyperactivity. An individual with ADD may actually seem quite calm, serene and passive, unlike their hyperactive counterparts who fidget, have trouble sitting still, and behave impulsively. ADD is now considered to be a form of ADHD, and is often known as “ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type.” Here’s what is involved in the diagnosis of this condition.

Diagnosis Method

As yet, there is no biological or neurological screening method that can be used in an ADD Assessment. However, people with ADD have certain commonalities in how they behave. The diagnosis involves asking questions to the sufferer (or their caregiver) about these behavioral symptoms. These behaviors must be regularly expressed in different situations — not just in one place or when with one person.

Inattention Symptoms

In an ADD Assessment, the psychologist or other mental health professional will ask questions about the sufferer’s attention levels. These cover things like, do they regularly make careless mistakes on tasks or chores? Do they have difficulty holding their attention on a task? Does their mind wander when they are being spoken to? Do they often lose items they need? Are they easily distracted?

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity Symptoms

Although this is an ADD assessment, the psychologist must also ask questions regarding hyperactivity in order to rule out an ADHD diagnosis. These questions revolve around topics such as, do they fidget or squirm in their seat? Do they have trouble sitting still? Do they find it hard to stay quiet? Do they talk excessively? Do they often interrupt conversations or activities of others?

Diagnosis Method

The final stage of the ADD assessment is to analyze the results of the diagnosis. For both inattention and hyperactivity, there are nine symptoms that the psychologist will ask questions about. If the individual demonstrates six or more inattention symptoms, but five or fewer hyperactivity symptoms, they will be diagnosed with ADD. To find out more details Visit . You can pay a visit to Facebook page for more information.

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