How does a doctor test for adhd on older adults?

Psychiatry: The evaluation for adhd is very involved. It involves questionnaires (connor, burke), IQ testing, psychological evaluation to rule out mood disorders/personality disorders, medical screening for vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, etc. You would best be served by seeing a general practitioner to rule out medical issues and then an evaluation with a psychiatrist would be helpful.

No specific tests: To diagnose adhd in adults a health care provider takes a detailed history about the patient's childhood development, school performance, social abilities, and job performance. There are also a number of pen and paper tests that screen for adhd in adults. More expensive evaluations are also available at specialty clinics.

ADD is testable : We look for symptoms & signs consistent with add. These include disorganization, poor interpersonal relationships, financial mismanagement, procrastination, disrupted executive cortical management, poor attention, impulsivity, interpersonal relationship problems, drug abuse, poor employment performance; among many others. We test for these signs in the exam.