How you can tell if someone is faking ADD/ADHD? What are the true symptoms? Thanks!

I don't know about faking but I know that I have a very hard time staying with one thing for a long time. Also if I'm not paying attention to my wife ,or anyone that is talking to me I might not hear everything that thay said.

Okay thanks Firedog...that helps!

Hm...It might be easier if you describe the behaviors of the person you suspect.

mom23

ok.... Let me type it....

People who fake it cant do it for very long because they would just get tired out eventually, people who do have it seem to have a constant motor in them that will only settle down when they are asleep or feeling drowsy. Thats for the hyperactivity type.

As for the inattentive type its much harder to tell, i guess if it happens really frequently, then it could be consider ADD, but if someone is faking it, they are going to pay attention to something sooner or later.

You should probably just go and talk to the person in question, it's far better than trying to second guess them on somethnig like ADD, which you cant really tell if soemone has it/doesn't have it simply by looking at them.

I agree, you need to talk to the person.
As for the symptoms, you need to do some research on this site for that.
*Not all ADDers show symptoms to the untrained eye.
I work hard to hide mine, based on my positon at work.
I have told a select few, and they see it once I tell them.
Usually for losing thing, great long term memory, crappy short term one, etc.

If a kid is "faking ADD", they probably really have it. I betcha. They might not know it yet, but I just betcha. I don't think it's a behavior you can fake; it's determined by long-term observation, not something you can continually fake unless you're some bizarre unreal self-control savant. They're likely just being themselves and not stopping the natural behavior, rather than faking something they don't normally do. Am I making sense? It makes sense to me, anyway.:rolleyes:

True to my name....why do you think they are faking?
To get out of things, because they mess up? Using it as an excuse?
Do they want to take stimulants? Yikes? Do they want attention, do they want to fit in with other people


Then my next question would be ....

WHY would anyone want to fake being ADD?
Most of us try to fake not being..LOL

I agree with most....if they were faking ...hanging out wiht them for an extended time would certainly prove if they were or not...although...I don't think I ACT ADD all the time??? Sometimes I think I appear perfectly...umm normal?


Here are a few things you can read.
Not sure if you are talking about an adult or child? I assume an adult?

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2542

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134

This lists the 3 types of ADD/ADHD people often refer to....

http://www.remedyfind.com/HealthConditions/121/
http://www.remedyfind.com/HealthConditions/37/
http://www.remedyfind.com/HealthConditions/122/


Hope that helps????

How you can tell if someone is faking ADD/ADHD? What are the true symptoms? Thanks!

An interesting question... I would suppose that it would depend on the type of ADHD in question. The problem here is that everyone has the symptoms of ADHD at times... there is not much that really separates NT from ADHD beyond frequency of the symptoms (though I do tend to think the symptoms are obvious). Someone who "fakes" ADHD may not really fake it at all... simply making excuses instead, not making a forthright effort in being fake. Others may be misdiagnosed. While the symptoms are frequent for those with the disorder, they do not present 100% of the time... but to the point where it is dysfunctional.

I guess the main thing to consider is... what makes it necessary to determine whether or not one is a faker? Is it because you have students making excuses for bad behavior? Does that bad behavior seem like... ADHD unrelated bad behavior? (i.e. being mean to other students, and not things like talking out of turn)? Are these students making many direct excuses for perhaps not doing homework? (i.e. I didn't do my homework because I have ADHD, vs. I forgot my homework at X... can I go get it [turn it in tomorrow]).

You might want to become familiar with ADHDers, not just the symptoms presented in the DSM-IV, but perhaps in a more empirical fashion (such as joining a forum.... oh, look, you found us!). That might give you more to work with when using your judgment.

How you can tell if someone is faking ADD/ADHD? What are the true symptoms? Thanks!

Symptoms can very from individual to individual and even very with a single individual depending on a number of factors.

Different sub-types as mentioned above will also have different traits, however all will tie into some one being able to consciously control their attention or direction of focus.

What to know if they are faking ADD? Easy . . ..without their knowing watch them when and how they do things that are boring to them. . . .at the heart of every ADD individual is a person who by their very biology is extremely averse to boredom

What to know if they are faking ADD? Easy . . ..without their knowing watch them when and how they do things that are boring to them. . . .at the heart of every ADD individual is a person who by their very biology is extremely averse to boredom

If the person is an [introverted] inattentive... watch the person fall away (tire out) from a social situation rather quickly...

If the person is more hyper (and often extroverted)... perhaps sitting down and reading a [boring, long paragraphs, doesn't get to the point] book would make it more obvious...

One thing about those with ADHD.... poor delay of gratification (and the complimentary lack of motivation) seems to be prominent. With those truly with ADHD, this often inhibits preemptive action if such action is long (and boring), to a much higher degree of severity than the neurologically typical (presents itself even when choosing preemptive action is clearly beneficial... matters of money management, preventative maintenance, etc., even when the beneficiary is solely the ADHD person).

I would agree with most of what's already been said here.

The hyperactivity would be, I think, exhausting to keep up for someone without ADD. Or take me, for example. I may not be 'physically' hyperactive, but try talking to me. I can leap from topic to topic, thought to thought. I'm already thinking of the next question while I'm listening to the answer you gave me to the question before...

The other symptoms? Hmm.. very hard to tell. Right now, I have a classmate who like me, is articualte, intelligent, engaging.. etc. But some of her physical symptoms makes me wonder if she has ADD too. She and I often had to repeat a lot of classes because we either turned in assignments late or didn't quite get the material before. I don't know..

I agree. Who on earth would want to fake having ADHD? And they think WE have problems! :D

Well I just reviewed this thread again...


Boy am I ADD...I didn't even see your "name" :eyebrow:

Ok I now assume you are talking about kids???


Well ..I have 3 of them all boys

I saw your post on Why ADD kids...sit on their knees, wiggle etc...
MY middle one who is ADHD ...does that all the time. Thank goodness she is very understanding, she said he really doesn't really disrupt anyone, it just distracts me! She asked why and I explained it to her..(see MeADD823's explanation in your orig post)
I have chosen not to medicate him until it's a behavior problem or his grades drop lower, now he goes between Merit roll and then a few C's drops him out...But no behavior issues...yet...


My older sister, who I referred to above, , is ADHD. She explained it me as being physically painful to sit still for very long. And believe me she doesn't.

I didn't understand, until one day...I was hyperfocusing on an art project of sorts (instead of cleaning my house) ....for about 4 hours straight..I made a "mail holder" out of a card board box, and covered it will all kinds of coupons.:eek: ..) It is actually pretty cool, and functions just fine :D
Anywho the last hour...I thought, why am I doing this like a crazy person...focused like a lazer beam..and I realized, because not having anything to focus on , to stop the constant static in my head,,,physically hurt. A lightbulb went off. Now I understand what she was talking about.
I am obviously Inattentive. In school, I was the awkward, quiet daydreamer in the back of the class, with very few friends, and really didn't fit in with anyone.
Two very different spectrums of the ADD family.

Now to explain my kiddo's futher...

My 10 year old, happy go lucky....
He just is very forgetful. I have to follow him after homework is done, to make sure he won't lost it in 2.5 seconds. He loses his shoes daily, his coat, his bookbag...constantly. Waits until the last minute to do a huge project that was supposed to be done over a month......And he is never , ever still.
He moves constantly, even when he is watching a movie he loves...he wiggles, makes noises.He is not afraid of anything, he will jump out of a tree at 10 feet in the airs, climb a roof , play tackle football with teenager, see how high he can get in the swing, and jump off, and not break his leg! High risk behavior. Typical.
A good example of his day...he is watching a movie, then 1/2 through the movie, he leaves and goes gets on the computer, then 15 mins later he leaves the computer and goes to the game here is ADHD .....busy busy busy..and when he is still more than 30 minutes...he is ASLEEP...

My oldest 15 was dx at 4...dramatic pre-school couldn't sit still, combative when they tried to talk to him about behavior issues (overstimulation and sensitivity to "being crowded" by them cause him to go off like a rocket, constant issues in school forgetting homework, talking in class, starting fights ...behavior issues, getting in trouble with the law...fighting to get him to do anything....chores, homework, anything that is not fun...
He is medicated and has been as early as we could. He just could not be in school without it , believe me we tried..
He was dx last week with BPDII, whole other story there.

My youngest 8 ...well he just exibits a few things...like the daydreaming, sometimes distracted and a bit on the busy side...but then he can sit and focus on something for hours! Sometimes he forgets homework...but for the most part I think he will be fine....


Again, like the others said,,,,and I offered the links in my original post ,so you can see what different ADD types are..and the issues they have....it's really hard to fake ADD...even if it's just at school. I guess maybe for a class? But if you have talked to other teachers, or students and they aren't seeing the same thing...maybe that would answer the question, unless they love that class? I would think all day in school would be almost impossible to fake....

LIke HF said....interesting question. I would like to hear more specifics why you are asking if you don't mind sharing with us?

I'd still be interested in hearing what the behaviour is that is prompting you to ask these questions. And how old the child/children are? Are they kids you think are quite bright but under acheiving? If you could give us a little more info me may be able to give you more guidance. If it's attention problems then I remember a few little tricks the psycologist who diagnosed me told me he teaches to help kids in class.

But if you have some serious concerns either way it might be worth talking to the parents, and maybe the school counciler before even them. I'm sure there would be a wealth of help and knowledge out there. This forum is just one of them.

Hold on....I am going to pull up a documentation on one of the girls in my classroom. She is why i asked the question.

After watching my son (combined type) wear out both of our dogs (bassett/heeler mix, and a black lab/border collie/golden retriver mix) I don't know how anyone could have the energy to constantly fake hyperactive. With innatentave I would think that would be hard to fake too, since a "normal" person would get bored with acting like they are bored.

One thing, do her parents say she's ADHD? If not, ask how she is at home. How is she in other classrooms, lunch, the playground, etc. Alot of diagnosis is consistancy of problems. As much as Steven's behavior through the years drove me crazy, I was always happy he acted like that everywhere. Then I knew it wasn't just me. :D

I can't imagine someone trying to fake something like ADD.

I guess the next question is what are they gaining by acting like they have ADD?

Are they being given what they want?

I'm trying to get at the motive more than just the fact that they are either Faking it or not.

I just reread this post And i agree WHY would ANYone want to fake ADD

It's rare, but it can happen. I've read of cases where other children in the family have ADHD or something and the non ADDers feeling left out try to act out similarly. But do not see that as the norm. Honestly, how old is the kid you speak of?
If she's young, she probably wouldn't even know the symptoms anyway. Or do you suspect her mum is coaching her to fake symptoms so she can get extra services? Or are you just bewildered as to why she seems ADD in certain siturations and not in others?
If it's the third, kids are inconsistent anyway, and symptoms can come and go in a range of different situations.
Or do you just mean that she probably doesn't really have ADD? Thats misdiagnosis, not "faking it".
I think, especially if it's a grade school kid, in this case, focus on the behaviours and how to improve them. Whether it's ADD or not. If you think she's trying to get attention, that's a problem in itself that has to be worked out. Don't look at the kid through the lens of a set of symptoms and whether she meets them or not.