I love self tests. The results are always fun to get. You go through them and think, “Yeah, that sounds like me” or “Mmmm, that one’s a stretch but I guess I can see it in this way…”
I especially like the process of taking self tests. I’m now in the habit of paying attention to the range of the questions and attempting to understand why the creator(s) of the test included a particular question.
As we were brainstorming content for this website, we were very excited about the idea of creating a self test with questions that represent a broader range of ADHD traits. I’m proud to introduce our first attempt at creating a self test that measures, however imperfectly, the full spectrum of ADHD traits that often manifest as strengths and/or challenges.
In keeping with our shift toward a Neurodiversity model and away from a Disability model, the Adult ADHD Spectrum Self Test is designed to give you information about a range of symptomology. It is our wish is that you will take your results from the self test and use them as a place to start on your journey.
Time and again in the Unpacking ADHD groups I’ve done over the years, I’ve seen clients walk away from traditional ADHD evaluations and self tests discouraged because once again, they’ve come face to face with their “deficits.” Especially if you’re getting older or carrying a lot of shame, it’s easy to walk away from such a test feeling like trying to make change one more time may not be worth the effort. We want to change that.
So, I hope you’ll give it a try. Have fun! And be sure to have something with you to take notes on any memories, insights or to-dos that taking the test brings up for you.
We’d love it if you made a comment here after taking the self test. Let us know what you think!
I based my answers solely on the way I am today. There were some questions that I would have answered differently just 5 years ago. I plan to learn more about ADHD because of my traumatic experiences that have changed me and I continually say to myself “I wish I was my Old self again.”
It was great to see some questions that I asked myself or knew I did but wasn’t sure it was anything. Also the focus is always on children but they grow up and then there are adults who don’t know.
I have always felt “different”, yet wasn’t really sure why. A lot of the questions really resonated with me and it makes some sense as to why I get funny looks sometimes. I would certainly love to learn more about it to gain a better skill set with relationships I hold dear and with working better and more effective with others.
As we age (senior citizen with ADHD), we can better “modulate” some of our strong ADHD characteristics and our answers would be “we used to …” This modulation comes both from learning about ADHD and remembering unfortunate outcomes or at least less than positive outcomes.
As we begin to manage better, it takes patience on our part to wait for those we care about to have confidence in us again. Though we may be less impulsive to blurt out our “I’m sure I’m right opinion,” we did so in the past.
It takes much effort to move forward and leave behind rememberances of the many months/years of unkind behavior from those we love, who did not understand the complexity of our ADHD and depression.