In recent years there have been a variety of videos, clips, and buzz about ADHD on a variety of social media platforms and feeds. Many people have a renewed interest in ADHD, especially for adults and the ways it manifests differently in men and women.
Is the Incidence of ADHD Going Up?
The actual amount or percentage of people who struggle with ADHD remains unchanged. Around 8-9% of children and adolescents are diagnosed with ADHD and about 6% of adults. Some adolescents do outgrow their ADHD between the ages of 16-24 which is why there is a slightly lower incidence of ADHD in adults. ADHD is a disorder of the frontal lobes, which are the last part of the brain to develop; up to about age 24. It is common for adults to be told they have to get retested as an adult even if they were diagnosed in their youth just because they may have outgrown it. All this said, the actual incidence of ADHD has not gone up, it is simply getting more social media attention and has piqued people’s interest and consequently there has been an increase in the number of people seeking testing.
Is There an Online Test for ADHD?
Given the evolving landscape of healthcare and COVID normalizing telehealth services, it makes sense that people are looking for quicker, easier and more convenient ways to receive assessment and diagnosis. There are countless resources online and dozens of self-screening tools to help you determine if there is enough symptomology to warrant further exploration of ADHD. Many people calling around to mental health clinics are finding long waiting lists or are even being told they are booked out so far that they cannot put them on a wait list at all. Frustrated consumers are looking for alternatives such as online testing and diagnosis. The nature of supply and demand has indeed brough forth options for online testing, even by licensed psychologists who will provide you with a report.
Will My Physician or Psychiatrist Accept Online ADHD Testing?
Just because online ADHD is becoming available doesn’t mean you should jump onto that bandwagon. You may want to check with your doctor or psychiatrist to see if they will accept that form of testing. In many cases, the answer is no. Sadly, many people found this out after they spent a fair amount of time and money getting an online test and report. Most doctors know that appropriate ADHD testing involves neuro-cognitive assessments that simply cannot be done online. They involve very interactive testing, some of which involve hands-on manipulation of assessment tools and instruments that simply cannot be done online. Many of the online ADHD testing might have a brief clinical interview and some online questionnaires, possibly followed by a computer test. Although this is much better than a 10-item questionnaire or online screener, it does not constitute the level of thorough cognitive assessment that most doctors want completed. Because the most common form of treatment for ADHD is stimulant medications which are a controlled substance, most doctors require a more thorough, in person, ADHD testing battery that simply cannot be done online. In person ADHD evaluations involve a thorough diagnostic intake, collection of collateral input from family and friends, and as already noted, the in-person testing uses testing instruments that can only be done in the office with the psychologist. In most cases, you should not waste your time and money trying to do an online ADHD test because your doctor will likely not accept it.
If you are interested in an ADHD evaluation, typically with only a 2-3 month wait, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an appointment with one of our psychologists. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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