Haven't formally introduced myself here, I suppose... Name's Torrid. I'm 18 years old and have struggled with organizational problems my whole life. Recently, the psychiatrist I've been seeing for depression suggest that I might suffer from ADD/ADHD.

Tomorrow I'm going in to have tests done. I'm not really sure what to expect. I have two appointments, one at 10:00AM, and one at 1:00PM.

Can anyone share their experiences with being tested for (and diagnosed with [or not]) ADD? What should I expect? I wasn't really told much about what the testing would entail.

It won't be as bad as oneself might think,it's easy to start thinking the worst about it but the specialist is there to help and will try to make self feel better during the assessing,although you'll know that anyway as I've just realised you're already visiting the pysch. before. :D

I'm not sure on what pyschiatry assessing is like,as I was assesed by a pyschologist,but they will most likely go through your history with you,the problems you have,the severity of problems and so on,they need to differentiate between the depression,and whether there is ADD or something else present,or nothing at all,so they will probably ask when the problems started,if they ever got better-that sort of thing.

Make sure you go there with all the symptoms,and history written down on paper/PDA,if you forget easily(who could remember their whole life mentally anyway? :D )
Write down any questions you want to ask also.

I have never been evaluated for ADD in Canada. Here in the "States" there is alot of "history" stuff. If you have any report cards espceially from elementary school ect where there are comments made buy teachers about "organization, attention span" Elementry school would be nice but any documentation from educators which documents the difficulties you had in aquiring an education.

Bosses evaluations from them if availible and "note worthy". I was asked if mom had any problems delivering me, when I walked, how old was I when I learned to talk, any major illness, injuries, or health problems, I was also asked about allergies to foods, intolerances, ect.... ADD are a group of symptoms which are "present" before age seven and persist through out a life time, causing difficulites in one of the three major phases of life.

I am talking about what I experienced here in the US in 1993. I would still find and take all documentation about symptoms. Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it!!!!!

Good luck, keep us posted!!!!!

My psychiatrist ended up being sick, so my testing has been postponed. Still kinda nervous...

Thanks for the input guys.