Many people feel uneasy about a test they have never taken. Here is how our ADHD testing works, what it measures and how the results are used.
How it works
The testing is a separate computerized assessment of the three core symptoms of ADHD: attention, activity and impulsivity. It is completed online as part of your evaluation, usually before your virtual visit with your provider, on a third-party, web-based, FDA-cleared ADHD assessment platform. It gives your provider objective data from validated testing to aid the diagnosis, but on its own it is not enough to diagnose ADHD.
What it measures
The test is designed to measure the three core symptoms of ADHD in people ages 6 to 60.
- Attention: During an on-screen task, inattention shows up in variations in how quickly and accurately you respond to what appears on the screen.
- Activity: The platform tracks motor activity during the task, which its maker reports measuring to within 1 mm, to give an objective view of small activity patterns.
- Impulsivity: Incorrect response patterns help our clinical team see how impulsive responses may affect your performance.
What it does not do
Because the test measures inattention, motor activity and impulsivity separately, it gives objective evidence about your symptom pattern during the test. It can help inform the ADHD subtype, but it cannot establish it by itself.
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How to prepare
- Set aside time in a quiet, private place with a reliable internet connection
- Follow the setup instructions you receive for the testing platform
- Get a normal night of sleep, and wear your glasses or contacts if you use them for screens
- Tell us about any medicines you take
After the testing
At your virtual visit, your provider goes over the results with you and evaluates you, looking at symptom criteria, your history, how symptoms affect your life, and symptoms across settings, supported by interviews and rating scales. The testing adds information to that assessment: high scores in all three areas do not automatically mean combined-type ADHD, and normal activity during testing does not rule ADHD out. Read how testing fits into the full process.
Request an ADHD evaluation if you want a thorough, careful workup. Read how ADHD testing works and what it costs first so you know what to expect.
This article is general health information and does not replace advice from your own provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
You complete an on-screen task online, usually before your virtual visit. Inattention shows up in how quickly and accurately you respond, the platform tracks motor activity during the task, and incorrect response patterns reflect impulsivity.
No. There is no pass or fail. The results describe your attention, activity and impulsivity during the test, and your provider weighs them with your history, rating scales and evaluation.
It can help inform the subtype because it measures inattention, activity and impulsivity separately, but it cannot establish the subtype by itself. High scores in all three areas do not automatically mean combined-type ADHD.