ADHD Testing
Ages 6+
Let’s Start Here!
My Thoughts on ADHD Testing:
In the too recent past, many people thought ADHD was make-believe. If people were diagnosed with ADHD, the “cure” was typically encouraging self-discipline and/or team sports. This oversimplification was inaccurate and harmful. ADHD has always been a highly individualized and complex mental health diagnosis. Now we’re catching up!
When it comes to ADHD testing in the Fargo/Moorhead area, here’s what I’ve noticed:
Many are forgoing formal testing, and people are being diagnosed using screeners during annual check-ups.
It can take months or even OVER A YEAR to get in anywhere for formal psychological testing.
Once individuals and families get in for testing, they often leave with more questions than answers.
If you take anything away from my website, I hope it’s this: ADHD symptoms overlap with many other mental health diagnoses and vary between males and females. Solely diagnosing with a checklist can result in misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses— each with serious negative consequences (e.g., lack of access to appropriate treatment, medication shortages, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, difficulties managing daily tasks, academic struggles, job instability, and increased risk of driving accidents and substance abuse).
When I opened Ani Mangold Psychological Services PLLC, I aimed to improve access to quality care by providing streamlined testing processes and quick turn-arounds. Every person I work with is also provided with a report that is easy to read and understand. I make it a point to provide detailed recommendations that are tailored to each individual to ensure they have a better chance of success. I really do mean it when I say that ADHD can be a superpower when it’s properly diagnosed and treated!
What You Can Expect at Ani Mangold Psychological Services PLLC?
After I’m contacted about ADHD testing, I enter the individual into my system and set up their first appointment. This appointment lasts for 1 hour and can be held in-person or via telehealth. Individuals 18+ attend this appointment on their own. Children 14+ and their caregiver(s) attend this first appointment together. For children under 14, I meet with caregivers one-on-one. If I’m given permission, I also reach out to other adults in children’s day-to-day lives (e.g., teachers and coaches) to gather information!
Next, I contact insurance providers to get permission to start testing— If I don’t, coverage may be denied. This step takes anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 days, depending on the insurance company. Once I get permission, the in-person testing appointment is scheduled (~2 hours).
Afterwards, I compile the results and my recommendations. I meet with individuals and families 1-2 weeks after testing, via telehealth, to discuss the report and answer their questions. Individuals and families are then given a copy of the report, marking ADHD testing as “complete.” However, I ensure that all of my patients know I’m always available for ongoing support and any questions that may pop up!
What Measures Do You Use?
In addition to learning about how you or your child experiences the main symptoms of ADHD (see infographic), I provide measures that look at verbal abilities, spatial understanding, creative problem-solving skills, working memory, task-completion speed, attention, impulsivity, thought and action regulation abilities, social behaviors, and emotional behaviors. ADHD and PTSD present nearly identically, so I also provide each of my families with a trauma history questionnaire to ensure accurate diagnoses.
Other Important Questions!
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is usually identified in school-aged children when their symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity lead to classroom disruptions and difficulties completing assignments. ADHD is more commonly diagnosed among male children than female children because of how their symptoms present. However, this does not mean that males are more likely to have ADHD than females. Male children tend to present with hyperactivity and other external symptoms (which adults are more likely to notice), whereas female children tend to experience more symptoms of inattention and internal symptoms.
What are Some Risk Factors for ADHD?
Having a family member with ADHD
Maternal stress and being exposed to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs in utero
Premature birth and low birth weight
Exposure to toxins, like lead, in early childhood
Head injuries
The most effective treatment for ADHD is a combination of outpatient psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and medication.
How is ADHD Treated?
Is Medication Really Necessary?
Individuals with ADHD have brains that operate differently from neurotypical brains! The biggest difference is in how the prefrontal cortex (PFC) processes dopamine. The PFC is the part of the brain responsible for attention and impulse control. Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain. Individuals with ADHD often have more dopamine transporters in their PFCs, leading to less dopamine availability. This negatively impacts their brains’ reward systems, their motivation, and how well they are able to focus and control their impulses.
In other words, individuals with ADHD can’t just choose to feel and behave differently through sheer willpower. Sometimes therapeutic interventions alone can lead to changes that effectively increase an individual’s dopamine levels. Other times, medication is necessary. If you or your child are still struggling with ADHD symptoms after participating in outpatient psychotherapy and occupational therapy services, I recommend participating in a consultation with a pediatrician, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner. The way I see it, you would never deny a diabetic their insulin. So why would you deny an individual with ADHD medication that regulates their dopaminergic levels?