diagnosis

Attention Deficit Disorder Diagnosis

General Adult ADD Symptom Checklist

I also use the following general adult ADD checklist to help further define ADD symptoms. No ADD adult has all of the symptoms, but if you notice a strong presence of more than 20 of these symptoms, there is a strong likelihood of ADD.

Please read this list of behaviors and rate yourself (or the person who has asked you to rate him or her) on each behavior listed. Use the following scale and place the appropriate number next to the item:

0 = never
1 = rarely
2 = occasionally
3 = frequently
4 = very frequently

Past History

___ History of ADD symptoms in childhood, such as distractibility, short attention span, impulsivity or restlessness. ADD doesn't start at age 30.

___ History of not living up to potential in school or work (report cars with comments such as "not living up to potential")

___ History of frequent behavior problems in school (mostly for males)

___ History of bed wetting past age 5

___ Family history of ADD, learning problems, mood disorders or substance abuse problems

Short Attention Span/Distractibility

___ Short attention span, unless very interested in something

___ Easily distracted, tendency to drift away (although at times can be hyper    focused)

___ Lacks attention to detail, due to distractibility

___ Trouble listening carefully to directions

___ Frequently misplaces things

___ Skips around while reading, or goes to the end first, trouble staying on track

___ Difficulty learning new games, because it is hard to stay on track during directions

___ Easily distracted during sex, causing frequent breaks or turn-offs during lovemaking

___ Poor listening skills

___ Tendency to be easily bored (tunes out)

Restlessness

___ Restlessness, constant motion, legs moving, fidgeting

___ Has to be moving in order to think

___ Trouble sitting still, such as trouble sitting in one place for too long, sitting at a desk job for long periods, sitting through a movie An internal sense of anxiety or nervousness

Impulsivity

___ Impulsive, in words and/or actions (spending)

___ Say just what comes to mind without considering its impact (tactless) Trouble going through established channels, trouble following proper procedure, an attitude of "read the directions when all else fails" Impatient, low frustration tolerance

___ A prisoner of the moment

___ Frequent traffic violations

___ Frequent, impulsive job changes

___ Tendency to embarrass others

___ lying of stealing on impulse

Poor Organization

___ Poor organization and planning, trouble maintaining an organized work/living area

___ Chronically late or chronically in a hurry

___ Often have piles of stuff

___ Easily overwhelmed by tasks of daily living

___ poor financial management (late bills, check book a mess, spending unnecessary money on late fees)

___ Some adults with ADD are very successful, but often only if they are surrounded with people who organize them.

___ Problems Getting Started and Following Through

___ Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started

___ Starting projects but not finishing them, poor follow through Enthusiastic beginnings but poor endings

___ Spends excessive time at work because of inefficiencies Inconsistent work performance

Negative Internal Feelings

___ Chronic sense of under achievement, feeling you should be much further along in your life than you are

___ Chronic problems with self-esteem

___ Sense of impending doom

___ Mood swings

___ Negativity

___ Frequent feeling of demoralization or that things won't work out for you

___ Relational Difficulties

___ Trouble sustaining friendships or intimate relationships, promiscuity Trouble with intimacy

___ Tendency to be immature

___ Self-centered; immature interests

___ Failure to see others' needs or activities as important lack of talking in a relationship

___ Verbally abusive to others

___ Proneness to hysterical outburst

___ Avoids group activities

___ Trouble with authority

Short Fuse

___ Quick responses to slights that are real or imagined

___ Rage outbursts, short fuse

Frequent Search For High Stimulation

___ Frequent search for high stimulation (bungee jumping, gambling, race track, high stress jobs, ER doctors, doing many things at once, etc.)

___ Tendency to seek conflict, be argumentative or to start disagreements for the fun of it

Tendency To Get Stuck (thoughts or behaviors)

___ Tendency to worry needlessly and endlessly

___ Tendency toward addictions (food, alcohol, drugs, work)

Switches Things Around

___ Switches around numbers, letters or words Turn words around in conversations

Writing/Fine Motor Coordination Difficulties

___ Poor writing skills (hard to get information from brain to pen) Poor handwriting, often prints

___ Coordination difficulties

The Harder I Try The Worse It Gets

___ Performance becomes worse under pressure

___ Test anxiety, or during test you mind tends to go blank

___ The harder you try, the worse it gets

___ Work or schoolwork deteriorates under pressure

___ Tendency to turn off or become stuck when asked questions in social situations

___ Falls asleep or becomes tired while reading

Sleep/Wake Difficulties

___ Difficulties falling asleep, ma be due to too many thoughts at night Difficulty coming awake (may need coffee or other stimulant or activity before feeling fully away) 

Low Energy

___ Periods of low energy, especially early in the morning and in the afternoon

___ Frequently feeling tired

Sensitive To Noise Or Touch

___ Startles easily

___ Sensitive to touch, clothes, noise and light

Total Score:______ (more than 20 with a score of three or more indicates a strong tendency toward ADD. Items 1, 6, and 7 are essential to make the diagnosis)

One of the most common ways I diagnose ADD in adults is when parents reluctantly tell me that they have tried child's medication and that they found it very helpful. They report it helped them concentrate for longer periods of time. They became more organized and were less impulsive. Trying your child's medication is not something I recommend!

Many thanks to Dr. Daniel Amen for providing this list.

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