How common and necessary are psychological tests to determine the diagnosis of ADHD? I know the actual diagnosis is a clinical one, based primarily upon presenting symptoms and personal and family history. However, I have had one person tell me that since the psychiatrist (who has been practicing for almost 30 years and is a faculty member at a prestigious medical school) did not perform any type of psychological assessment that the diagnosis is not "valid".

I did not really get a questionnaire but I think he covered all of this during the patient interview session. I was asked about specific behaviors both at home and at school/work, how long I have experienced such things, and so forth.

I was not forced to take an IQ test, but I have taken one before. The results clearly indicate a discrepancy between aptitude and performance.

Is the general consensus that no tests = no valid diagnosis, despite the actual diagnosis being based solely upon symptoms and DSM criteria? My psychiatrist did mention that my case is pretty straightforward; perhaps he did not think any additional tests were necessary?

It's not essential to have testing done to be correctly diagnosed with adhd. However, for many clinicians the kind of data that a good neuropsychological evaluation provides is tremendously helpful in obtaining a diagnosis. Some doctors swear by testing, some don't feel it is important. A lot depends on the doctor.

The usual route often involves first getting an initial diagnosis of ADHD from your MD, then going to a neuropsychologist for a neuropsychological evaluation (testing), and once formally diagnosed seek out a psychiatrist to treat your adhd.

This is the route that many people go. Myself, my treatment was going nowhere until I got the evaluation, a proper diagnosis, and went to a doctor specializing in adhd for treatment. Things got better right away once I got to my present doctor.

If your insurance will pay for it , and if not, if you can afford it, testing is the way to go imo, as it provides your doctor with lots of information about you so that he/she can make better informed choices about how you should be treated.

Me :D

I know the actual diagnosis is a clinical one, based primarily upon presenting symptoms and personal and family history. However, I have had one person tell me that since the psychiatrist (who has been practicing for almost 30 years and is a faculty member at a prestigious medical school) did not perform any type of psychological assessment that the diagnosis is not "valid".

Is the general consensus that no tests = no valid diagnosis, despite the actual diagnosis being based solely upon symptoms and DSM criteria? My psychiatrist did mention that my case is pretty straightforward; perhaps he did not think any additional tests were necessary?
My son was evaluated three times by three different types of practitioners, and all were "valid." (Had to for school 504)

The first was his pediatrician who took all of the questionnaires from his dad and I and his teachers, did a short (very) physical, aked a few questions, and wahlah, an ADHD diagnosis.

The second was done by a psychologist who did the same questionaires again, a thorough interview with my son (and observation) and with me, and had him perform a beta computer test for attention. Took 1.5 hours or so. Also equalled a diagnosis.

The third one was by an educational neuropsychologist who did the questionaire by me, and a whole battery of tests. It took the good part of a day. I did it this way to try to uncover any learning delays or behavioural or personality issues in the process. Again, a dx of ADHD, along with some other REALLY helpful information on how his strengths and weaknesses and how his unique wiring processes information, etc, and recommendations for his new 504 plan.

So, there are several ways to go about it, depending on what and how much information you want to get out of it, or if you think there may be some tagalong issues, which many times there are. From what you wrote, it sounds like your physician was thorough, and from the discussion he had with you, did not see a need to dig any deeper. You could alway contact the office again and ask what and why, though, if you still have questions regarding his final diagnosis and what he did base it on and why he didn't go any further.

What deficits do you think ADHD/ADD or LDs have caused you?

Testing teaches you that. (In the final review meeting with the Psychologist.)

What deficits do you think ADHD/ADD or LDs have caused you?

Testing teaches you that. (In the final review meeting with the Psychologist.)Well, I think I figured most of it out on my own, which were the presenting symptoms :P

How common and necessary are psychological tests to determine the diagnosis of ADHD?

I didn't have any of those formal testing things. Much depends upon the doctor's personal beliefs and the patents ability to pay {IMHO} I had to have a physical with some lab I within three months of my initial visit to my ADD doc.

My doctor is a neuropsychiatrist - he specializes in neurology and psychiatry. I went to my OBGYN for my routine "lady exam" and it was comprehensive enough to be used because the exam included a complete physical with the lab. I simply picked the medical records form that office and and then took them with me to my first visit.{I arrived with parts of the physical so I signed a thing so that the OBGYN office could fax over the missing parts} I didn't get a referral because not having insurance meant I did not need one. I paid cash and still do.

After spending about two hours with me He felt my ADHD {ADD with "H" factor} was apparent - my appointment was longggg and he had his own way of observing my attention span . He read out loud {in a monotanious voice} from a small book and I was to follow along in my copy of the same book - my attention span lasted less than a page and in the ten to fifteen minutes I was supposed to be reading along I wandered off - thought I forgot my purse in the lobby - it was under my chair the whole time , used the chair more as a jungle-gym that a sitting device.I was 29, married, in nursing and had three daughters. I squirming and wiggling so much I slid out of the of the chair onto the floor {I swear he varnished that thing}, I could tell him how many tile his ceiling consisted of how may books he had on the shelf behind him, half their titles and how many phone calls his receptionist answered but at the end of the 15 minutes I had no idea as to the topic of the reading material nor was I able to find my copy of the book {to the best of my knowledge it is still MIA} . I was ten minutes late to my appointment,I forgot the damn self questionnaire { that was in 1993 and I still haven't delivered those} once I reached the parking lot I had to call twice for directions before finding the office, the second call I made being ten feet from the office door.

I am of the opinion many cases of ADHD are obvious without formalized testing. MY ADHD is "official" I have never had the documentation he provided questioned by any one. I did have several of those formal test as a child due to my learning disabilities {they thought I was retarded gee can't imagine why} however the hyperactive ADD wasn't picked up on as ADD because I was a girl = back in the 1970's hyperactivity was for boys only. I was born the wrong gender.