I think most of us are familiar with this. You get a list of words of colors written in another color. Instead of reading the word you have to say the color it's written in. Here's an example:

http://www.pixalo.com/gallery/data/518/Color_chart.jpg

I haven't been diagnosed yet, but one of my tests consisted of the stroop test. Unlike most with ADHD I was really good at this. It went pretty fast and I didn't make a single mistake. (did really bad on the working memory test though)

Now I'm wondering, what are the different factors that influence the result? I know it's a test for impulsivity (the left brain tries to say the word, the right brain the color), but I thought ADHD'ers are dominant in the right part of the brain? Wouldn't that mean you'd try to say the color instead?

Also, is there a difference between those with Inattentive and those with Combined/Hyperactive type regarding this test? It would seem that inattentives perform pretty well on this test since they're lacking the impulsivity.

Another question I have: are there any notable differences between left and right handed people with AD(H)D? Neurotypicals who are left handed tend to be dominant in their right brain and vice versa. I wonder if this matters since I'm left handed myself.

I think most of us are familiar with this. You get a list of words of colors written in another color. Instead of reading the word you have to say the color it's written in. Here's an example:

http://www.pixalo.com/gallery/data/518/Color_chart.jpg

I haven't been diagnosed yet, but one of my tests consisted of the stroop test. Unlike most with ADHD I was really good at this. It went pretty fast and I didn't make a single mistake. (did really bad on the working memory test though)

Now I'm wondering, what are the different factors that influence the result? I know it's a test for impulsivity (the left brain tries to say the word, the right brain the color), but I thought ADHD'ers are dominant in the right part of the brain? Wouldn't that mean you'd try to say the color instead?

Also, is there a difference between those with Inattentive and those with Combined/Hyperactive type regarding this test? It would seem that inattentives perform pretty well on this test since they're lacking the impulsivity.

Another question I have: are there any notable differences between left and right handed people with AD(H)D? Neurotypicals who are left handed tend to be dominant in their right brain and vice versa. I wonder if this matters since I'm left handed myself.

It's not really a test of impulsivity so much as it is a test of your ability to direct your attention towards a certain color.

http://www.snre.umich.edu/eplab/demos/st0/stroopdesc.html

When I was diagnosed, a different test was used. I was put in front of a computer where a letter flashed in front of me. I was supposed to hit the space bar on every letter except x. The test is extremely boring and is meant to gauge your reaction time. When I took it, it was found that the faster the letters flashed on the screen, the better my reaction time. Thus indicating that my attention tends to drift when I'm not mentally stimulated.

I tried that Stabby. It was challenging for me... good test.

I think most of us are familiar with this. You get a list of words of colors written in another color. Instead of reading the word you have to say the color it's written in. Here's an example:

http://www.pixalo.com/gallery/data/518/Color_chart.jpg

I haven't been diagnosed yet, but one of my tests consisted of the stroop test. Unlike most with ADHD I was really good at this. It went pretty fast and I didn't make a single mistake. (did really bad on the working memory test though)

Now I'm wondering, what are the different factors that influence the result? I know it's a test for impulsivity (the left brain tries to say the word, the right brain the color), but I thought ADHD'ers are dominant in the right part of the brain? Wouldn't that mean you'd try to say the color instead?

Also, is there a difference between those with Inattentive and those with Combined/Hyperactive type regarding this test? It would seem that inattentives perform pretty well on this test since they're lacking the impulsivity.

Another question I have: are there any notable differences between left and right handed people with AD(H)D? Neurotypicals who are left handed tend to be dominant in their right brain and vice versa. I wonder if this matters since I'm left handed myself.

Grrr, I kept saying the words! :D

So what could this mean? That I have more chance of having Asperger's than ADD? I did really well on all the tests (visual memory, Stroop) but bad on the working memory test.

I'm affraid I might be diagnosed with depression instead, while I'm 100% sure that's not it. I'm a little depressed, but every symptom I have has always been there. The depression is the consequence of my symptoms, not the other way around.

So what could this mean? That I have more chance of having Asperger's than ADD? I did really well on all the tests (visual memory, Stroop) but bad on the working memory test.

I'm affraid I might be diagnosed with depression instead, while I'm 100% sure that's not it. I'm a little depressed, but every symptom I have has always been there. The depression is the consequence of my symptoms, not the other way around.


I think your best bet is to listen to what your Dr. says. :)

Honestly, there's no way we can tell you what's happening here. There's any number of conditions ranging from Anxiety to hyperthyroidism that can very closely resemble ADD.

If nothing else, there are other tests for ADD. If you don't feel those tests were accurate, you might try asking if your doc can do another test.

I think your best bet is to listen to what your Dr. says. :)

Honestly, there's no way we can tell you what's happening here. There's any number of conditions ranging from Anxiety to hyperthyroidism that can very closely resemble ADD.

If nothing else, there are other tests for ADD. If you don't feel those tests were accurate, you might try asking if your doc can do another test.

My psychologist said it could be depression, but I just know it can't be that. I've been very different from other people all my life. Now I'm in college and things are getting worse, socially and academicly. Well actually, I'm a tad bit more social. As a kid I was very asocial, didn't know the social rules (even in high school). I'm still very shy and completely unable to do smalltalk. In class I've always been (and still am) unable to pay attention and I'd zone out a lot!

It just can't be depression, so being diagnosed with just that excluding ADD/Asperger is unacceptable.

I did that with my phy, as well as in school many times during my life, and even now I have no problems, at all. Perfect last time, I needed a little more of time in the last three. Oh, I'm not under meds, I forgot to ask for the prescription since I though I had enough. I'm supposed to be right brained and I'm ambidextrous. Would that have something to do with it?

There are other tests of Exec Fx and working memory, too


Tower of London/Hanoi
Trails A and Trails B
Working memory tests
Auditory tests (PASAT is one)

Depression and anxiety can both cause cognitive problems and memory and exec fx problems. Please do not say "just depression".

Stress (causes toxic chemicals) can fry memory, WM and EF, and seems to be linked to things like depression and anxiety and ADD.

Sorting them all out is a false dichotomy in a sense.

Another thing: most ADDers will present as "depressed" b/c they are failures at the game of life. It is very painful to be an "underacheiver" when much dumber people are passing by us in school and careers.

Thing is: if your depression and anxiety never go away (treatment resistant) after meds and life changes -- and the ADD is ignored (and is a causative factor), the depression will likely not improve.

You deserve Testing and a Trial of Stimulants, IMNSHO.

NB I was not diagnosed until University, BTW. It happens. Smart people can cope to an extent, longer than lower IQ people. But we will hit the wall eventually (academically) as it sounds like you are finding now in life.

Yes, I know I'm depressed and it causes even more problems, but the initial reason I got depressed were the symptoms and me failing at everything. I didn't try to downsize depression, I should have used the word "only" instead of "just", meaning that depression would be the only cause of my problems while I know it's not. I have a very clear view of the reasons I'm depressed.

That was fun to do, and very hard. I found I can do it right, but it takes me about five seconds to say the colour every time .. even when I have the colour in my mind my mouth still wants to read the word .. often I start saying the word, but can correct if I really push very hard.

I also found this to be rather difficult.

I'm supposed to be right brained and I'm ambidextrous. Would that have something to do with it?

Irrespective of whether or not the concept of brain-dominance carries any weight (a different discussion, where many will have differing opinions), I'm not sure if this test is unbiased -- meaning, would a "right-brained" person have an equal propensity toward naming the color of the word as a "left-brained" person would have towards reading the actual word. The test is supposed to be about one fighting one's "automatic" processing (usually printed text is monotonous in terms of color, so it could easily be a detail to be ignored by habit by anyone).