Testing for ADHD in Women
Girls and women are less frequently diagnosed with an attention deficit due to societal biases and aspects of their inner strength and drive. ADHD symptoms in women can be unique, so psychological testing for ADHD in women can bring new understanding that leads to success. There is no specific ADHD test for women, so we rethink conventional measures to provide unique and accurate diagnoses and help you find your true potential, greater understanding, and new possibilities.
We also have a specialty service for testing for an attention deficit in girls.
ADHD Testing for Women Benefits
An advanced ADHD test for women can lead to new insights and deeper understanding of your strengths, opportunities, and challenges.
Academic Success
A diagnosis of an attention deficit before or during college or grad school can help a young person design strategies for success and ensure she reaches her true potential.
Social Awareness
Relationships can improve, and you can learn how to help people understand how an attention deficit affects you. Undiagnosed ADHD in women can cause misunderstandings which testing can clear up.
Career Advancement
At work, understanding your unique type of attentional issue can help you navigate challenges and find opportunities to excel. You’ll also find strengths you can tap into.
Deeper Insight
An ADHD test for women will help you understand your past with new perspective, giving you insights that may help you in the here-and-now. It’s designed to show potential.
Building an ADHD Test for Women
To start ADHD testing for women, we will likely do an IQ assessment to determine your cognitive strengths, see if there are direct signs of an attention deficit, and see if your achievement in school or work does not match your potential. We might supplement these with more specific cognitive measures.
We will also do executive functioning assessments designed to see how you process, remember, encode, and then use information, and whether there are any differences or challenges that have been overlooked.
Surevys Regarding ADHD Symptoms in Women
Psychological testing for ADHD in women starts with comprehensive surveys that describe your symptoms and trace them back to your childhood. Given that inattention and lack of focus are missed when girls are assessed in school, we will focus on those areas.
We will also connect with others you feel might have insight into your symptoms and their development.
ADHD Testing for Women: Specific Add-Ons
Once we’ve taken the first two steps, we will choose add-ons that cover other areas where an attention deficit is often missed. These assessments are designed more to find solutions, helping you in your specific job, at home, in relationships, or school. They may also be used to help you get work accommodations for your attention deficit.
Testing for ADHD in Women Overview
Girls and women are less frequently diagnosed with an attention deficit due to societal biases and aspects of their inner strength and drive. Symptoms of ADHD in women can be unique and understanding them can bring new understanding that leads to success. Thus, they often face unique challenges when it comes to psychological evaluations. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is often stereotypically associated with hyperactive boys, which can lead to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. As a result, many women may not receive proper assessment and treatment, leading to difficulties. Comprehensive psychological evaluations are crucial in identifying and understanding specific cognitive and emotional challenges.
Testing for ADHD in Women: Differentiation
Psychological testing for ADHD in women can help differentiate symptoms from comorbid conditions commonly found in women with an attention deficit, such as anxiety or depression. These conditions often coexist with an attention deficit and can complicate the diagnostic process. By conducting thorough psychological evaluations, we can comprehensively understand the individual’s symptoms and develop a treatment plan that addresses their unique needs. The results of psychological assessments can also provide clients with a greater sense of validation and a starting point for seeking appropriate interventions and support.
Testing for ADHD in Women, the process
ADHD testing for women typically involves a comprehensive evaluation of their cognitive abilities, attentional processes, and emotional well-being. This assessment helps to identify the presence and severity of symptoms and determine how they may be impacting various areas of their lives, such as academic or occupational performance, relationships, and overall quality of life. The testing process may include neuropsychological tests, self-report questionnaires, and clinical interviews to gather information about the individual’s attention, impulsivity, executive functioning, and emotional functioning.
More information about ADHD in Women
There is a lot of excellent information about ADHD symptoms in women, including an article from the Cleveland Clinic and a recent report by NBC News. We also cover psychological testing for attentional issues in girls separately.
ADHD Test for Women: Example
Julie came in for ADHD testing for women, feeling like she has always had an attention deficit, but it’s been overlooked since her symptoms, like many women, differ from those typically seen in men. She says she has trouble concentrating and attending at work, though most people can’t tell because she’s a hard worker and tries not to let her struggles show
We start with an initial screening where we can gather detailed information about Julie’s symptoms, behaviors, and experiences. This involves questions about attention difficulties, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and their impact on daily life. We include her childhood to see how the symptoms evolved over time. The overall goal of this stage is to understand the origin and current challenges presented by her current symptoms, and their impact on various areas of life, such as work, relationships, and daily functioning.
The next step in testing for ADHD in women evaluation is using standardized rating scales and psychological measures specifically designed to evaluate symptoms in adults. These assessments consider the subtleties of symptoms, including inattentiveness, disorganization, emotional dysregulation, and coping mechanisms used to mask symptoms. We ask Julie to gather information from multiple sources, such as family members, her partner, and some close friends, can provide a more comprehensive view of her behavior and symptoms.
We also use the scales to rule out other medical or psychological conditions that can mimic or coexist with an attention deficit, such as anxiety, depression, thyroid issues, or sleep disorders. Collaboration with other healthcare providers might be necessary.
Following the evaluation, we provide feedback, discuss the findings, and collaborate with Julie to develop a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs. She will pursue therapy, certain accommodations at work, and some lifestyle adjustments that we suggested. She also realizes some of the benefits of ADHD.
ADHD symptoms in women often present differently, being more subtle or internalized compared to the more overt symptoms seen in men, so our nuanced women’s ADHD testing was valuable. We’d be happy to talk to you about what testing for ADHD in women could help you.
FAQ
Here are some common questions about ADHD Testing for Women.
You can also contact us or schedule a consultation to get more information.
How Long Will the Testing Last?
Each ADHD test for women involves one session of around two hours, some work you will do on your own time, and then a one-hour feedback session after the results are ready. This includes an intake and possibly conversations with others in your life.
Does the Report Go Beyond a Diagnosis?
Our goal is to provide you with details about your unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities. The report will describe ways to ensure you are reaching your potential. It goes well beyond a yes or no about a diagnosis and the effects of ADHD symptoms in women.
When Will I Get the Results?
We try to produce a draft psychological testing report around two weeks from the assessment. Then we will meet to make sure that everything you wanted is in the report and your questions were answered. A final report will come a week later.
Can ADHD Testing for Women be Combined with other Tests?
Yes, we often do ADHD testing for women in combination with other testing assessments such as Personality evaluation. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is often assessed as part of the core evaluation, as are other specific measures.
Contact Us About Testing for ADHD in Women!
We’d be happy to talk to you more about symptoms of ADHD in women and how a test battery can help you overcome the barriers they present. We also do ADHD testing for teens as a subspecialty.