I took this test a few weeks ago and am now awaiting the results. I am quite certain that the only ones that I got wrong on all the 13 tests were approximately the last 2 of each test, which the psych told me were ungodly hard anyways. What does it mean if I do well on this test? That I don't have ADD? Also these morality questions, like "If you see a stamped envelope on the street what do you do with it?" What is the point of this stuff? I don't see how an intelligence test is used to determine if someone has ADD or not.

hello, and welcome.

I googled WAIS III to see if I could come up with a criteria for administering the test. I didn't. So, I think your questions would best be directed at the psychologist who admistered the test.

When you ask, come back and let us know what your psychologist said. Know *I'm* curious! :)


edit: found the following information about the WISC (the abbreviated form of the test you took) at http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/eric/faq/gt-ldtst.html "Many psychologists use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), third edition, to identify learning disabilities."

I guess my real question is if I really even had to take this test or could I have totally bypassed it and went to a doctor that would listen to my symptoms and diagnose me from there. I don't have a learning disability so it to me seemed like a waste of $500 if I could just go to a psychiatrist and they would diagnose from the symptoms I told them I had.

A large number of ADDers are gifted - there are researchers who study this specifically. An IQ test (which this is) will show the doctor a few things. If your marks in school are average, for example, but your IQ is higher than average - this would make you something of an underacheiver (a very ADD trait). If your IQ is average, then you are presumably doing fine.
Now $500 seems like a lot of money for a small diagnosit tool - most Dr's should be able to gauge general intelligence by talking to a patient. Every Dr is different when it comes to diagnosis - some do a questionaire, talk to you and diagnose on a balance of probabilities. Others do a few more tests to completely rule out other physical or psychological conditions that might cause your symptoms, and a few others do test after test (I guess it depends on your insurance, the Drs experience, etc.) to really pin down the cause, and identify other co-morbid conditions - like dislexia, disgraphia, OCD, ODD, BPD.....
Sometimes these can be subtle - my disgraphia wasn't discovered til high-school - I was smart enough to adapt and pretty much hide my weaknesses.
Next time you might want to directly ask your Dr why he is doing a particular test and if it is necessary (ask in a nice way!) You're the customer, you get the bills, so you have the right to participate in a descision regarding your diagnosis.
Best of luck.
Greg
Good luck with your diagnosis.

Thanks for answering Greg,

The $500 was basically the testing plus diagnosis fee, at the "student discount" of $50/hr. I just talked to a psychologist who participates in the golf message board that I frequent. HE answered almost all of my questions. He said that the subtests can determine symptoms of ADD, because alot of them require memorization and close attention to detail. I'll update on what the results of the tests are when she tells me on Thurs/26.