Resources

Adult ADHD Self-Reporting Scale

If the aforementioned signs and symptoms of ADHD sound familiar or representative of issues you’ve experienced, you may consider checking them against the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist.

The World Health Organization and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD developed the list, which physicians often use in dialog with patients seeking help for ADHD symptoms. At least six symptoms, in specific degrees of severity, must be verified for an ADHD diagnosis.

The following are a sample of questions from the checklist. Choose one of these five responses for each: Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, or Very Often.

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• “How often do you have difficulty keeping your attention when you are doing boring or repetitive work?”
• “How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when turn-taking is required?”
• “How often are you distracted by activity or noise around you?”
• “How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?”
• “How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?”
• “How often do you interrupt others when they are busy?”

If you answered “Often” or “Very Often” for several of these questions, consider making an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation.

Adult Attention Span Questionnaire

Although not used for clinical diagnoses, Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, director of the Chesapeake ADHD Center in Maryland, developed a sample Attention Span Test for adults with ADHD.

Rate the following sample statements from Dr. Nadeau’s questionnaire on a scale from 0 (not at all like me) to 3 (just like me):

• “It is hard for me to listen for long periods of time at meetings.”
• “I jump from topic to topic in conversation.”
• “My home and office are cluttered and messy.”
• “I often start reading books but rarely finish them.”
• “I pick up and drop hobbies and interests.”
• “Meal planning is challenging for me.”

A high score on a majority of the questions, combined with experiences of marked difficulty with focus and concentration, may suggest adult ADHD. Make an appointment with your doctor or psychiatrist for a professional diagnosis.

Here are some great places to visit! Many have links to even more places to explore.  Some have free booklets and newsletters you can sign up for with great information.

RI ADDults & RI ADDult Support Group:

http://www.riaddults.org/RIADDults/Welcome.html

Dr. Ned Hallowell: Live A better Life www.drhallowell.com

Dr. Halowell’s Blog  www.drhallowell.com/blog

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (for adults)(ADDA) www.add.org

Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) www.chadd.org

Parent Support Network www.psnri.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources  www.addresources.org

ADD Consults www.addconsults.com

ADDvisor www.addvisor.com

ADD Warehouse (800) 233-9273   www.addwarehouse.com

ADDitude Magazine www.ADDitudemag.com

JAN Job Accommodation Network www.askjan.org  (800) 526-7234