6 Quick Questions About ADHD Testing

People often find themselves with questions swirling around in their minds when it comes to understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), how it is diagnosed, how testing for ADHD works, and how it can be treated. ADHD is a complex condition that manifests in different ways. To help provide some clarity, here's a list of some frequently asked questions Lifeologie Counseling specialists often receive about ADHD.

1. What if I am not sure my child has ADHD?

It's completely normal for parents to feel uncertain about whether their child's behavior is related to ADHD or something else. ADHD can show up differently in each child. For instance, girls might be underdiagnosed because they often seem less hyperactive than boys, even though they still face challenges with inattention. Mood can also impact concentration. Just because your child struggles to focus in school or on homework doesn't automatically mean they have ADHD. That's where testing comes in handy! If you're unsure and think getting some clarity would help you and your child, consider looking into testing for a clearer picture.

2. what if testing doesn’t show signs of adhd?

This can be pretty confusing for parents when they find out that the symptoms are in fact, not ADHD. Psychometrists and counselors try to offer meaningful feedback and recommendations around what we are seeing, as well as likely causes or strategies to help manage things like learning differences. We still try to recommend resources and tools you can use to help address the challenges that are there, even if ADHD isn’t.

3. what if testing does come back as adhd?

This question can often be equally as scary for parents and even children, but either way, it is going to be okay. There are so many resources available that can help children and their parents learn to live and thrive with ADHD. These are the resources that therapists go over in the feedback session after testing is complete. We aren’t in the habit of giving diagnoses and wishing you luck. We make sure to direct you to the resources and places that will be of help to you.

4. is adhd a learning disability?

No, ADHD is not a learning disability, but it can affect academic and work performance. Learning disabilities are disorders that can affect someone’s ability to take in and understand information, as well as express themselves. These can lead to challenges with understanding spoken or written language, accurately computing numbers, and so on. It’s important to think of ADHD as a difference in thinking rather than a learning problem. Better yet, it can even be thought of as a superpower (even though it may not always feel like that). People with ADHD simply experience the world differently than others without it.

5. do I have to give my child with adhd medication?

This is a question that often comes up in testing. When ADHD seems to be present, it is sometimes recommended that parents follow up with their child’s primary care provider about whether or not medication is a good option for them. Ultimately, it is your choice whether or not your child takes medication, so be sure to work with your child's health care team and consider consulting with a prescriber to learn about the benefits and potential side effects of ADHD medicines, including stimulants. 

6. will medication fix the problem?

First, your child is not a problem. Their ADHD is not a problem. They are who they are and thinking of them (or their diagnosis) as a problem to be fixed sometimes leads to friction between parents and their child. This is a trap parents often fall into, and there may be plenty of reasons for why. It can be challenging to parent a child who can't seem to follow directions or remember tasks easily. Regardless, thinking of them as a problem often leads to treating them like one, whether you mean to or not.

Second, even if your child is on medication, that alone will not teach them better study habits, how to stay organized, or not to climb to the top of a tree! These are all skills that still need to be learned. Medication’s job is to help them focus long enough so that they can learn how to do those things (or not do in the case of the tree). They will need coping skills for life, such as to learn how to limit distractions, find ways of studying that actually work, and, above all else, recognize that the way they think and view the world is a gift, not a curse.

Formal testing for ADHD can help diagnose a variety of learning differences. You can learn more about that process from our blog, Consider Testing for ASD, ADHD, and More, by reaching out to your child's school counseling department to learn about the resources and programs available in your local district, or using our locations page to find a therapist near you who specializes in ADHD counseling.