Before i adopt a child is there a way to test a 1 or 2 year old for adhd like with a cat scan, mri or any other way?

No: There is no objective test for adhd. The diagnosis is made from a checklist of subjective symptoms. That is why I do not consider it a real medical diagnosis. When i look for the underlying medical or educational cause of the adhd symptoms and treat them, most of the time, they resolve.

ADHD is real: Adhd is well described deficit of cortical function. It is neither behavioral or educational in nature. Although mri, fmri and other research tools have proven beyond doubt that adhd is a real disorder, these tools aren't readily available for clinical use. 1 or 2 year old brains are sufficiently under developed that a diagnosis is not usually possible. Adhd usually presents around 4 yo.

Tests for ADHD: There are several available tools (like a stethoscope) that can indicate the presence of adhd. Two highly regarded and statistically validated tools are the tower of london (drexel) and the peeramid-2/peer-2/peex-2 series from mel levine, md. Additionally, several physical examination signs are easily demonstrated in adhd patients including mixed dominance, extraocular dysmetria, and synkinesia.

No: Adhd is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms of inattention, behaviors and performance. There aren't any imaging tests that can diagnose it and currently there are no criteria for diagnosing it in 2 year olds.