Posted by katekite on July 1, 2002, at 15:13:00
In reply to ADD, differential diagnosis help ???, posted by JonW on July 1, 2002, at 8:47:41
Hi Jon,
There is something called a "continuous performance test" that would be administered by a psychologist. See if you can get evaluated with it. That was what initially led to me trying stimulants (it said I most likely had ADD).
That test discriminates pretty effectively people who have ADD from those who do not. The test is basically some numbers or letters flashing on a computer-like screen. For example, one at a time: A B A C D A D etc. The task is to press a button every time an A follows a B, but not when you see an A the rest of the time. Various versions of the test are out there. In some it gets faster as it goes along, or harder with distracting colors or shapes flashing around. Most people with ADD make many mistakes: hitting the button for too many As (which is showing you are impulsive) or not hitting the button in time when an A comes on (shows you weren't paying attention). Since the two major facets of ADD are being impulsive and not paying attention the test works quite well.
The downside of the test is expense: its just a silly computer which (in my case) looked like it was made in 1960, but apparently it takes a skilled person to interpret it and they can charge. My insurance actually paid, which is rare. It might be worth it out of pocket to rule it out if it can be ruled out.
kate
poster:katekite
thread:111115
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111138.html