What are the tests for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder?

No test: The diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is by history. There is no test that shows whether or not you have it. If there are a sufficient number of symptoms of attention deficit or of hyperactivity-impulsivity which cause problems, have been present since early childhood (before age 7), and there is no other clear cause, then you have attention deficit.

Many: Most docs answer this question thinking about a specific diagnostic test like blood test, xray, or blood pressure. But many signs are found in adhd pts. Since this is a neurologic disease, it has neurologic findings. Eg, poor executive function, synkinesia, dyskinesia, poor working memory, temporal sequential ordering problems can all be tested. Eye muscle dyskinesia an inerrant sign in adhd.

Many,few,none: Many rating scales, diagnostic interviews, symptom checklists.Few continous performance tests, qeeg, psychoeducational assessment, none are diagnostic, as the evaluation requires a trained, experienced professional to complete a thorough history, physical exam and clinical observation.