In my experience, there are people who answer “no” because they have systems that they’ve developed to compensate for their diminished executive function. One person is hypervigilant about staying on task, so they claim that they aren’t easily distractible. Another sets multiple alarms and reminders, so they are on-time for appointments. When screening for adult ADHD, could we account for compensatory systems?
This is what the actual interview is for. It's very unlikely someone is hypervigilant enough to not still have at least 4 of these, and if they are then they will be going in for panic or stress disorders, in which the adhd symptoms will get uncovered.
Thank you! As a therapist (I also have ADHD) clients often ask me this question. I’m grateful to have a resource for clients and colleagues. I look forward to reading your books.
@@russellbarkleyphd2023I have ADHD and Dyslexia, I was lucky enough to find a place to get a clinical diagnosis after advocating for myself, while completing my B.A. because I couldn't pass algebra to save my life. I use this diagnosis for work, for state teacher exams, and for my bachelor's I was givena replacement writing course. I try to be a role model and advocate for others trying to navigate life with ADHD, but they always ask how they can get a clinical diagnoses as an adult. The place I went to is now closed, and I had a very hard time getting this diagnosis through my medical insurance prior. What can I suggest to these people... I live in southern California, if it helps. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO, I LOVE TO NERD OUT ON EVERYTHING YOU SAY, EVEN WHEN YOU SAID ONE TIME DON'T LET THIS BE YOU EXCUSE, DO BETTER❤❤❤❤
@@russellbarkleyphd2023 If you meet the threshold though the symptoms could be due to other factors though. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, SPD, Depression, Anxiety, home problems, Thyroid problems, bullying, Bipolar, Autism, Stress, so they have to be ruled out first.
This explains a lot. I think I have ADHD. 8/9 for Inattention and 5/9 for Hyper. 7/9 for the Adult ADHD section. The fact that I commented this before the video was up and had to edit the comment several times tells me all I need to know 🤣
The only ones that were NOs for me were because I learned to control stuff to avoid being criticized. So, I guess that is okay. But they were YESes as a child before I got in trouble all the time. I'm 42, got an official diagnosis last week, and basically answered YES to nearly all of them, even though I kept getting distracted and had to rewind several times.
My problem with these lists and questionnaires is that the questions are incredibly vague, and encompass such a wide variety of activities. Most of the answers for me would be "depends", "what do you mean by that", and "yes, but no". This for the inattention. Like the question that had reading as part of it, no I enjoy reading very much, but I struggle to keep attention on books that aren't interesting enough. And about losing items, I deffinitely don't have that trouble, because I've studied organizing, use checklists, have systems, and check my belongings. And for things that require mental strain, I hyperfocus on writing, so that deffinitely is a joy, not a struggle, but what qualifies as mental strain? Is providing important documents to your employer a mental strain? I totally suck at that, but it only takes like 5 minutes, which doesn't seem much compared to writing a massive novel. The pre-screening I did before a visit to the doctor only had 6 questions that weren't as broad, and therefore easy to answer. I haven't yet watched the whole video, so it might still come up. Anyway from that my result was 6/6. For comparison I asked my husband to do it, and he got 0/6.
Same. My issue with the questions is the word “often.” What is often? Surely everyone experiences these symptoms occasionally, so what then qualifies as “often” by comparison? I have been treating myself for symptoms of ADHD for over 2 decades, but I only realized that’s what I was doing a few years ago. I thought I was just really immature and needed to grow up, but there was something fundamentally broken in me that wouldn’t let me. So I started systematically structuring my environment around my “inadequacies.” When I need to take something with me in the morning when I leave the house, I don’t put it on the kitchen table where I’ll forget it, I put it on the passengers seat of my car. I have duplicates of cleaning supplies all over the house, so when I need to clean a bathroom, I don’t need to hunt down the cleaner. I use Pomodoro timers and body doubling videos to help me focus on work/school. I have alarms set on my phone for important things I can’t miss, like taking my kid to preschool or picking her back up - in some cases, I have alarms set to warn me that I need to wrap up what I’m doing and then another alarm 10 minutes later to indicate it’s time to drop whatever I’m doing and put on my shoes to go. These “treatment” came over time and at great expense with lots of trial and error, and the next time I move to a new house or start a new job, etc., they’ll all go to shit and I’ll have to start over again to implement a new system, but when I get a system in place, it WORKS. The difference is magical. For that reason, if you ask me these questions at different times in my life - now, 20 years ago, after I go back to work in a couple of years - you’ll get very different answers.
Dr. Barkley, you are the only person who does not have ADHD but who regularly speaks about it that I trust, because you are the only person who does not have ADHD that actually understands and empathizes with what it's like to have it. I love and appreciate you so much. Thank you for consistently showing up for us in ways that actually help and make us feel seen, heard, understood, and respected. THANK YOU!!! ❤❤❤
He spent his life's career researching, treating and presenting/educating about ADHD. I think he has a family member with ADHD. See his other presentations for other organizations....hilarious stories (if they weren't so real in life)...especially for adults with ADHD. Fishing stories, etc.
I'm 37 - I don't have an official diagnosis and honestly I probably won't get one, but I recently came to the conclusion that I have inattentive ADHD. My husband starting pointing out things that I do so I started looking into it. I scored 9/9, 2/9, 4/5 😮😮. I know I struggled with a lot of things but putting this into perspective is mind blowing. I believe my 16 year old son has Inattentive ADHD as well, I'm going to test him tonight. Thank you for all that you do.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD changed the way I understood my ADHD. Up until then I was left to blunder my way through medication and life because no-one had adequately explained it to me; ever! Thank you so much❤
need to add to your checklist: says they will get it later, usually referring to putting something away or completing a task, and not getting it for days and having to be constantly reminded.
This was amazing. The only reason I don't lose all those items constantly is bc I have made systems for all of it! I used to be much worse! 7 yes on the 1st list, 8 yes on the 2nd. 6 on list 3. Also I'm 55 years old and consider myself to be quite hyper, barely sit down and my mind is always racing.
This I think is what’s missing from the diagnostic criteria. Intelligent people will build elaborate systems of guardrails to fend off the “impairment” label. But that doesn’t make it any less exhausting to constantly maintain the guardrails day in and day out.
@@eric-seastrand great point! I didn't know anything was wrong with me so I figured a way around a lot of it. The worst for me is my memory and my mom constantly asking why my memory is so bad. Hers is amazing so she doesn't get it!!!
I saw a video somewhere else that made this point in a funny way. If you answer any of these questions with "no, because I have a system for that!" please know that normal people do not need a system for that. lol
Yes, systems are the key. If ppl can figure out the systems that work best for them and consistently work for them. ie, the car keys are always put in the same place every time you are in the house. The cell phone never goes outside while I work in the yard...unless it has a bright fluorescent orange waterproof case...but far easier to leave it inside the house. (It is good to be unconnected...much less to distract you.) I now have a cooler bag that I put my water in when working in the yard...otherwise I loose the water bottle as I chipmunk my way around the yard. And whomever designed yard tools to be colored green....ought to have to look for the green colored tools in a green yard...then they may have gotten a clue that need to be other colors.
When I got formally diagnosed, the psychiatrist said I had 9 out of 9 inattentiveness symptoms (this was at the age of 30!). Any time I do anything, it's like working on a laptop that restarts itself every 5 minutes, with almost no RAM. I'm on Vyvanse, which makes it...restart maybe every 10 minutes, hah. Still almost-no-RAM. And it overclocks with perpetual hypervigilance, in an attempt to compensate. My biggest saving grace in life was I figured out the "low-fee index fund in a tax-sheltered account" thing at a young age. Any shopping feels exhausting, so I just have an abnormally high savings rate and don't spend money. Probably the weirdest thing about me is how financially well I'm doing, despite a low income and a profoundly impaired executive function.
Please be mindful when you do this. This is still outdated on noticing Women's awesome Masking skills. Dr. Buckley please do a video on that, because i was only diagnosed in my early 30s once all my masking skills couldnt keep up. Thank you.
@russellbarkleyphd2023 agreed - 9/9 on inatentive. The second hyperactivity symptoms for me were 1/9, but only because they all happen on the inside. I have the strong urge to, but I don't. I finish people's sentences in my head, I have racing thoughts, I need to exert so much control over myself in a conversation to hold back and wait. I bite my lip, tap my foot or sway constantly, and need to remind myself to stop. I note that it was acknowledged at the end that it's less common in adults, but this was true of me as a young girl, too, I learned very early, before primary school, to keep it on the inside. So much so that I was not diagnosed until my 30s. 9/9 for the adult. section.
Scored 8, 8 and 7. Decided to take a short break between the first and second columns, only to remember I hadn't finished it 4 hours later... Seems fairly consistent with other tests I've tried. Unfortunately the local services are refusing to diagnose adults where I live, despite referrals from GPs, so no luck there.
I’m at least 8/9 in both. I had to rewind this video a couple times because I started surfing the internet and messaging my friend while this was playing.
Thank you for this. This will help a lot of people. Your instructions and walkthrough of each symptom was really nice. Also, learned the word "cogitate" today! Don't think I've ever heard that till now lol
I had to start over because I didn't hear him say start in column 1 because I got distracted by a random thought. I answered Yes to all questions. I'm 39. 😩😮💨
"I didnt hear him..because I got distracted by a random thought." 😢 Saaaame! At 40. Always was aware of these symptoms of mine, never thought they were ALL ADHD. And being untreated for so long has made them a lot worse.
Thank you so much for these tests, am sincerely grateful. I am 62 and have struggled all my life and never knew what was wrong with me constantly spinning my wheels. . . until a couple friends suspected I was ADHD and I started looking into it. I just gave 6-7 Yes answers to all three questioners. It is about time to get some help!
Man. I'm completely and totally fucked. I am a strong and immediate yes to all of the innatentive symptoms, and a handful of the hyperavtive ones but to a lesser extent. I think some of that manifests in my doing the chicken game thing with my hands and constantly biting my lips to the point where they're visibly damaged, and just being unable to stick on a thought whatsoever. I have medical bills i can pay and havent. I havent filed my taxes in 3 years, nor have I done this years taxes yet. I have to be hounded about every little responsibility in my life. My girlfriend is constantly complaining about me not listening to her when shes talking, and i even notice myself doing it fairly often. I never call off from work but always have a ton of points because im tardy every day, even if i wake up early, ill find some way to piss the time i saved away. Part of that issue is i never want to go to bed. Even if i tell myself i NEED to, i have to, I will opt to do something else when push comes to shove, usually play video games. Video games are basically the only thing I enjoy. I cant even sit through a movie without getting physically uncomfortable. I started drinking at 16, it got worse at 18, and i binge drank 4-5 nights a week, a fifth or more of vodka a night until i was 23. Had a complete meltdown one night in 2020, and stopped immediately but replaced it with kratom, and have since replaced kratom with marijuana but less often. Im afraid i will just be told im depressed and handed ssris, but i genuinely dont believe that to be case. I dont think i experience sadness or anxiety that feels unwarranted very often if at all. Most of those things come from my complete inability to get my fucking life together no matter how many times i say im going to. Not brushing my teeth forever has led to huge dental issues, of which i then put off even going to the dentist for for another 2 years. Only in the lasy few months have i actually learned what adhd really is in adults and i feel like it is a checklist designed specifically for my entire life. I just feel like a complete fuck up every day and it is infuriating that im doing it to myself.
I feel you man, your story is so relatable to me. I’m pretty sure that my anxiety and depression was caused by growing up with untreated adhd. Am trying meds now and they’re helping with all the concentration and attention issues. I feel immediately more capable and more secure to just do life, which is reducing my anxiety because I no longer need to be hyper vigilant about messing up. With untreated adhd I never knew what I was messing up or why and had no idea how to do anything except from a place of shame. I used drinking to blunt those dark feelings but was left empty and numb. Maybe adhd treatment could help you too, any way I wish you well
I heavily relate to this. I've always thought maybe I have ADHD my whole life but I also never really understood what it was and never experienced most of the hyperactivity symptoms so I just wrote it off. I then started to notice an unstable and wavy decline of my mental health recently, realized that it's been happening for like 6 or more years and considered I possibly have a minor form of bipolar (cyclothymia) so I started talking to my friend who has ADHD about how I've been feeling recently and he said it really sounds like ADHD especially with my use of caffeine to regulate myself to feel normal and focused several times a day. So I'm thinking I might have ADHD-I since I have like 70% of the symptoms, the only thing stopping me from going to see a doctor is the embarrassment of not having it and not having an excuse for my weird and lazy behaviors.
@@RoachEatsVipers Sounds like me. The more I learn about ADHD the more I realize how well it characterizes my entire life. Lazy, procrastinator, reckless, impulsive, impatient. I posted a few comments about not wanting to get diagnosed. Then it occurred to me that all my logical reasons for not going might be my brain trying to avoid a big mess of emotions. Out of sheer impulse I drove to a clinic. They were closed, appointment only. I was in such a rush I didn't check their hours! Left a voicemail, then got a call back and made an appointment for 1 month from now. But I couldn't wait that long, called back and moved it up to next week. Delay-averse behavior. If you have ever considered getting tested but then decided not to for various reasons, I'd say just do it lol. Rip the bandaid off. I will find out myself soon enough.
I'm in a similar boat, only a few less than you. I'm concerned about access to a physician to get a diagnosis, though. I'm pretty high functioning, but I went into the arts so it kinda works out?
magnificent; thank you Dr. Barkley. Its refreshing to hear this rather than (as has happened with me) that some psychiatrists are quick to label some of these as hypmania or hyperthymic personality traits. well done.
My hyperactive score 3, Inattentive 6. But as kid, hyperactive would have been almost all of them lol. As adult, it's mainly a sense of needing to be busy, doing stuff, tension. In social settings, needing to talk and struggling with listening. But I mask it a lot. I often feel a lot of energy inside. As a kid, I walked round classroom, disrupted others, didn't sit still during story times, mum constantly chasing after me.
Inattentive 9/9 H/I 2/9 Home? Yes. Education? Yes. Work? Yes. Social situations? Yes. Daily responsibilities? Yes. 5/5 Barkley's "best" adult ADHD symptoms 9/9 A couple days before I watched this vid, I scheduled a test. But I couldn't wait a whole month so I called back and pushed it up to next week lol. I'm so cooked.
Love this video, doc! Many of us who are diagnosed with ADHD, as well as other ND's like autism (I'm diagnosed with both autism and ADHD), we all had a self-discovery process before we then decided to get a diagnosis. This is helpful for anyone going through that period of self-discovery!
Greetings Dr Barkley. Thank you for spending time for ongoing education. Can you please spend one session on diets which have been effective and have evidence in management of ADHD like DASH, Mediterranean, elimination, … Regards
Soo…who else answered yes to ALL (but one, I’m OCD so I have zero issues with organization) of the DSM and Dr. Barkley’s questions? Just me???? I was diagnosed 2yrs ago at age 41 but I was still laughing while listening to this on my drive home today. Especially to the driving part. You would’t believe how many/how much speeding tickets cost me as well as 3 accidents and knee injuries later….It was still fun listening and re-affirming what my son and I have shared in common.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD is a game changer for this ADHDer. I am reading Is It You Me or ADD. Again a game changer. Two books I recommend as a must read. Oh one more Driven to Distraction.
Well, how am I supposed to answer the first question, if i`ve been making mistakes at school and sometimes at work and now i`m 46 and double-triple check everything ar avoid tasks where I know I can make a mistake?
Yea, you can definitely check that box, its a coping mechanism for your faults. Normal people; I find, dont have to do that for practically everything.
I got 8 ok each row😂 I've been diagnosed but it's still interesting. Developmentally delayed yes lol I have excelled in life but nuch later, life was very difficult until about 30 when I started to learn to cope. Still struggle fut finally have my ish together! 😂❤🎉
@@legoguru3000 it will get better! I'm 37, married with 5 kids and life is fun. Everyday is different and can bring different challenges, but that's expected. Keep up the great work! You've got this 😊
i got 5/9 inattentive, 1/9 HI, 3/5 in interfere, 6/9 adult symptoms.. i may never seek a diagnosis, but i decided to implement dr. barkley's recommended strategies in his book on adult adhd just the same. i began externalizing (writing out with pen and paper) everything i need to do, random thoughts, mundane thoughts, etc. it's helping me to at least keep better track of stuff done and not done yet. it honestly felt different from just listing it out on a phone or computer. whether i have adhd or not, dr. barkley is helping me out.
its fascinating that i've been on antidepressants for decades for anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression. However, i've always had what i believe to be attentional and hyperactive symptoms. I think i answered yes to 12 out of the 18. It will be interesting to see how ADHD meds possibly give me more relief than the SSRIs. well done Dr. B!
I scored 5, 3, and 4, but I also feel like I've put in place a lot of strategies and coping mechanisms, including the massive livestyle change of becoming a minimalist stay-at-home homeschooling mom with a casual job that has no firm deadlines 🤷
Hello Dr Barkley, thank you for another valuable content. It would be great if you make a video about the differences and overlap between character traits and ADHD symptoms. Most of us frequently feels that what we knew as our personality was actually symtomps and it is a very complicated kind of grief. Eg I know tons of trivial facts on many topics because I frequently spend hours online jumping from topic to topic. Now that I see it is related to ADHD.
My dad completed a rating scale too (pre-assessment) and he gave me a higher score than I gave myself, which was interesting.I'm complicated as I'm autistic and have OCD, so this might affect how the traits appear in me somewhat. The psychiatrist will hopefully be able to disentangle everything when I have my assessment. I had so much help from parents growing up with school work and organization, managing deadlines etc. They scaffolded me a lot. I had reading comprehension issues, number difficulties, spatial issues. If interested in something I can learn and that's all I think about, but I can't manage adult life - forms, cleaning, all that. Anything that is not interesting is neglected, my brain just seizes up. Focusing feels mechanical for me, like it uses a lot of brain power, so I often procrastinate, which annoys me because I could be more productive. I envy people who can read a book for relaxation. I love reading but I have to read aloud to ensure I stay on track and to help me comprehend the text, it's never relaxing.
8/9 and 5/8 ( yes ,I somehow missed a question in the second column 😂) The 4 I answered no to were because I worked hard on them and consciously suppress my impulses.
Do you have a similar "diagnostic" video for cognitive disengagement syndrome? I'm fairly certain I have both ADHD and CDS, but I was hoping that you might have something I could use to explain/define my behaviours to a psychiatrist next time I manage to see one.
There is a review article noted in the description of the CDS lectures. It is open access to the public. Print it out from the journal website and take to your doctor to back up your concerns. The review shows the best 12 symptoms for diagnosis. Having at least four occurring often or more puts one well above the norm at the 93-95th percentile.
One of these questions is unclear to me - Do you often have difficulty engaging in tasks quietly - does that mean that I, myself, am being quiet, or that I have difficulty doing a task unless I have extraneous noise like coffee shop noise, a podcast, music, etc.?
I dont have a drivers license because i am disabled. ( i can drive certain cars but it is hassle to get a hold of one) I use max speed on my electric wheelchair... BECAUSE IT IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TO DO SO! when you think about it i am almost always running when i am outside! Even with my disability i am hyperactive psychically even when my god dam bones hurt when i move. This makes so much sense now. It makes so much dam sense!
Yes to everything except for losing things (Usually). I have systems, my backpack for example: - Front pocket: Tobacco & lighter, wallet & keys, earphones. - Middle pocket: Phone charger, sunglasses, maybe meds. - Main compartment: Hoodie/jacket, water bottle, things I might use or get that particular day unless they make more sense in the other sections. - Separate sleeve in main compartment: Books, iPad, notebook and pencil or pen. Pretty grateful about my head being joint to my body.
Some people say that having a system at all is a sign. I used to say that I was never late for things, but that's because I would get there an hour or two early to *make sure* I wasn't late. Once I got a car and had the ability to leave later to get to places "on time", that's when I started being late to things.
Inattention scored 6. The ones I didn't score on were making mistakes, if anything I'm over focused on detail (being autistic). And I'm not too forgetful ( my synaesthesia probably compensates for this, although I was forgetful at school as a kid and was in Special Ed class for this). Also my OCD compensates against losing items, but that said I often can't find things as I can't organize for toffee. I am waiting assessment. Right, now onto the hyperactive one...
2/9, 1/9, 2/9. Might be +1 in first or third. Dr. Barkley, if I likely don’t have adhd, can anxiety disorder and or depression cause the points that I said yes to?
8/9 Inattentive. 4/9 Hyperactive/Impulsive. 8.5/9 Adult ADHD. For trait 5 in the Adult ADHD list, I listed it as half a point because if I made a commitment to someone else with someone else (Meeting up for an event) then I can lock myself in for that, even though I may be late on the day. But if I make a commitment to myself for someone else (I'm going to send someone a package at some point), that's when I lose track of myself. I just threw out a mug I was going to gift somebody for Christmas two years ago.
Im am 34 years old undiagnosed and awaiting my screening and evaluation in about 2 months. While listening to this video and following the tasks i was wondering about how many people might answer the screening questions differently because of social pressure in the sense of "i dont want to be perceived as having troubles with managing my workload" or (and until recently i felt myself in a similar spot:) "i dont have problems with the questions asked because my environment already is excepting of my deficiencies". For example my wife and colleagues luckily already are a lot more patient with me than i am with myself. Not the same goes for my siblings and parents who always had difficulties accepting my behaviour and rather took it as insults, ignorance or arrogance. I dont want to be perceived as such by them and i am certain that i am not perceived as such by my wife and coworkers.
This is very interesting, I get 6 inattentive / 3 hyperactive, but only 5 on the new Barkley scale. I am diagnosed (inattentive presentation) - I wonder if I am a statistical anomaly for the new set of questions. My 5yo is on a waiting list and ticks 4 inattentive / 7 hyperactive. It is interesting to compare applying the questions to my own experience of myself vs my external observation of my child. It feels like a very different task. It's a good idea to have different screening criteria for adults. I will look in the book to see if it says how these new criteria were made.
Ugh… I already knew I have Adhd but I literally answered yes to everything. I must be an absolute nightmare to be around. That’s depressing. My partner is a saint for putting up with me. 😭
inattention[8/9] and impulse [8/9] and pervasive [5/5] and barkleys [8/9]. I'm 41 and life isn't that bad. Every now and then everything around you crashes down, but you'll survive. I also know that whatever I do, there is a big chance I will break it or find other ways to turn it into shit.
I went to get a piece of paper and couldn't decide if graph paper would work or if it had to be lined. I chose the lined, but then got distracted by a project I had started and left out and began monkeying with that, then I remembered to take the paper back to my computer to do the test. Scored 8, 3 and 9, respectively. I've been waiting just over a year to get tested, but I think older adults don't have priority.
The question on the 3rd set about driving too fast seems really age dependent. When I was younger, yes, I tended to drive fast. Now, at 54, I am the complete opposite. I basically delegate driving to a different part of my brain and I think about other things and often drive slower than everyone else. I am 100% not hyperactive though (0 yeses on test 2)
Yeah, that question threw me off a bit too. Most times I don't drive faster than others, but when I had a daily commute I did because I was always late getting out the door. But the second part I know can be a problem. I've had it pointed out by my family on several occasions that Im getting too loud when doing something fun. I tend to talk to myself a lot when working on something I enjoy.
That question threw me off, too. Scored 5/9 on that scale as i answered this no - would answer the alternative with yes, though. (Inattention 8/9, HI 2/9, Interference 4/5; no diagnosis as of yet) Because i *almost* caused a crash several years ago, due to being rather careless. Or, you could say, inattentive. At a speed that could have easily caused serious harm, maybe a fatality. Would have involed others, which terrified me even more as i realized it. Changed my driving behavior rather quickly after that. I still might sometimes go over the speed limit, but only if i am distracted, and even then only slightly. Moat of the time, i adhere to the speed limit like a creed. Acceleration after a traffic light or similar is still rather quick though. Something similar is true for some other questions, true. For example: Do i reply before others finish sentences? No. Would i like to? If i got what you're up to, then hell yes. This lead to some heated arguments with friends though, so i stopped doing that. Then again, this is a screening only, right? At a diagnostic appointment, i can bring this up, and have it accounted for. [Edit: I have no clue what my point was exactly. To clarify: i got distracted twice while writing this, but i'll leave it anyway.]
Got diagnosed with 6/9 A. C. Inattentive 6/9 A. C Hyperactive So Combined ADHD Also B,C,D and not E But I reckon could have had more 54 years old and diagnosed but had it all my life
I have adhd so bad. It's ridiculous even to me. It has ruined my life bc I cant wait for even a minute for good things to come to my life. I have to just accept what is there immediately which usually is no good, not good enough or bad.
My 1st grade teacher recommended ADHD testing for me because I wasn't completing my classwork as fast as the other kids. So much so that she would have me stay in from recess to finish coloring and cutting out my worksheet. The results of my childhood screening "She has the attention span of a 5 year old." Sometime in my mid twenties i got my official Ilinattentive ADHD diagnosis and started meds. My mom was like "you don't have ADHD, i had you tested."
8 out of 18? I’m like 16 out of 18. I just don’t understand how I’m 37 countless parent teacher conferences, countless parent counselor meetings, testing for special needs classes only to be told he’s answered things no one else has ever answered. “Oh he’s just lazy then?” “yup, I guess so.” And no one ever thought maybe it’s adhd. I wasn’t very hyper not like my friends who would actually bounce off walls. But looking back it’s always been in my head. I was grounded for damn near 6 years straight because of my grades. Occasionally I had short stints during summer if I could pull it all together to get like a 1.8 GPA. I never looked into AdHD until this week and it’s just mind blowing
9/9, 4/9, 4/5, 6/9 - Oh boy. BTW I took this test while at work because I got distracted. 😅 I am going to get evaluated but it’s expensive. I am currently saving up.
The computer AI generates the transcript and the subtitles but sometimes it doesn't get it correct. The computer can't correct for context so it can't tell the difference between bear and bare or pair and pear. So sometimes there are odd words tossed it. The slower someone speaks it is better for the computer to actually pick up the individual words. Dr. Barkley has clear enunciation of words and rate of speech is fairly slow...so it should be able to pick it up. Some ppl like to ensure that the subtitles and transcript are correct, so they'll go through the transcript to make sure the words fit the speech. Google is the translator that YT uses to translate the subtitles...so for some vids...it would be better to ensure the computer got the correct words....then it can be more accurately translated. Depending upon what flavor of the language that someone speaks...the translation may not be entirely correct. For example, google uses Brazilian Portuguese to translate from English to Portuguese. But if you are in Portugal ...trying to use google to translate...won't necessarily give you the European Portuguese vocabulary and especially different pronunciation. I don't know which flavor of English that google uses to translate from other languages. (Flavor of English: UK, US, Australia, African English, India English, Polynesian English...)
problem is that i don't know if i willingly change the answers or not because i've thought about the topic a lot the past months (to an excessive amount like in a special interest lol). I also can concentrate and sit still and do "boring" things but these are bound to specific social and enviormental situations
Question number 10: Did you open another tab and check twitter at any point during this test? Jokes aside. I'm almost 30, never considered ADHD, psychological issues all my life, high IQ, low executive function, life is a struggle. 8/9 points on inattetion, 4/9 on hyperactivity. Time to get tested. Thank you Dr Barkley!
I may need to go around asking people to answer at least the inattentive questions to confirm that the majority of people do not do these things often. Lol. I got 6/9, 3/9, 7/9 -- but I think the inattentive would have been higher if I did not have systems in place to double & triple check things.
About being significantly impaired... My home is a mess, but it only becomes a true impairment when people would be coming over. And for my asthma of course, far too much dust. What does impairment mean? I don't have kids, so having clean laundry in the machine for a week isn't that big of an issue. For education, it depends on the circumstances and teachers. There are significant variables. For example I've understood that arts are a safe haven for ADHDers. I've never had a regular job for a longer period of time, so it's impossible to say how much my job performance would be impaired. So being asked this question I'd reply with "I don't know". Though I might add it seems impossible for me to have a long time, regular 9-5 job, as even the thought of such regularity gives me stress.
Crap I got to 17/18 as an adult. The hyperactive were much more strong yes. The first 9 were definitely yes but more things I’d assume other deal with too but maybe it’s just because I know no difference
Well Im 36 and I got 9 - 6 -9. I've been meaning to get a diagnosis for ages, but I keep forgetting or getting distracted until it's too late to call and make an appointment... write down a reminder note.. then forget/ignore or lose the note... and repeat😅
Not me as a recently diagnosed ADHDer answering 9 out of 9 from the first column and 6 out of 9 in the second one. 😂 My impostor syndrome has been appeased for a bit.
I often watch videos on facebook (on my phone) and while watching I'm thinking about things in the video and want to look it up on google so I want to get my phone to look it up but I can't find my phone 😒 so then I end up searching for my phone while I'm holding my phone in my hand 🤦♀️😅... And this happens quite often 😅....
7,5/9 on the Barkley list. When I hyperfocus, I'm giving that leisure activity my whole. The only big no thing was driving faster than others, because I'm very concious about not trying to kill anyone. Women typically have higher levels of empathy, so could this question be biased against women?
I already got diagnosed with adhd by a psychiatrist but i feel like i am just a failure and i probably don’t have adhd. I feel somehow guilty of having adhd.
I don't understand #6 of the "Barkley's best symptoms" - what is a 'proper order or sequence' ? For instance to fry an egg you need to put the egg in the pan before the egg goes on the stove, but I can't imagine anyone putting the egg on the stove before looking for a pan (unless they were very distracted at that particular moment, but that doesn't seem likely to be "often" even with severe ADHD (?) ). On the other hand, there *is* no right order between putting the pan on the stove, turning the stove on, putting the egg in the pan, adding salt, or finding a spatula. So this criteria must (?) be referring to something functionally in between those two sorts of scenarios?
In my experience, there are people who answer “no” because they have systems that they’ve developed to compensate for their diminished executive function. One person is hypervigilant about staying on task, so they claim that they aren’t easily distractible. Another sets multiple alarms and reminders, so they are on-time for appointments. When screening for adult ADHD, could we account for compensatory systems?
sometimes i literally don't know.
I often ask (and state when asked myself) something to the effect of "Do you believe that you experience XYZ by nature or by habit?"
This is what the actual interview is for. It's very unlikely someone is hypervigilant enough to not still have at least 4 of these, and if they are then they will be going in for panic or stress disorders, in which the adhd symptoms will get uncovered.
Yes!
Thank you! As a therapist (I also have ADHD) clients often ask me this question. I’m grateful to have a resource for clients and colleagues. I look forward to reading your books.
Very kind of you. I hope you find them useful.
@@russellbarkleyphd2023I have ADHD and Dyslexia, I was lucky enough to find a place to get a clinical diagnosis after advocating for myself, while completing my B.A. because I couldn't pass algebra to save my life. I use this diagnosis for work, for state teacher exams, and for my bachelor's I was givena replacement writing course. I try to be a role model and advocate for others trying to navigate life with ADHD, but they always ask how they can get a clinical diagnoses as an adult. The place I went to is now closed, and I had a very hard time getting this diagnosis through my medical insurance prior. What can I suggest to these people... I live in southern California, if it helps. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO, I LOVE TO NERD OUT ON EVERYTHING YOU SAY, EVEN WHEN YOU SAID ONE TIME DON'T LET THIS BE YOU EXCUSE, DO BETTER❤❤❤❤
@@russellbarkleyphd2023 If you meet the threshold though the symptoms could be due to other factors though. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, SPD, Depression, Anxiety, home problems, Thyroid problems, bullying, Bipolar, Autism, Stress, so they have to be ruled out first.
This explains a lot. I think I have ADHD. 8/9 for Inattention and 5/9 for Hyper. 7/9 for the Adult ADHD section. The fact that I commented this before the video was up and had to edit the comment several times tells me all I need to know 🤣
I got the same exact score
Har har har..welcome to the club!😅
The only ones that were NOs for me were because I learned to control stuff to avoid being criticized. So, I guess that is okay. But they were YESes as a child before I got in trouble all the time.
I'm 42, got an official diagnosis last week, and basically answered YES to nearly all of them, even though I kept getting distracted and had to rewind several times.
Same
6
How uncanny! So many adults with ADHD symptoms. Actually, I like my (probably) ADHD self, so no sweat.
Now, where'd I put my keys? 😂😊
My problem with these lists and questionnaires is that the questions are incredibly vague, and encompass such a wide variety of activities. Most of the answers for me would be "depends", "what do you mean by that", and "yes, but no". This for the inattention.
Like the question that had reading as part of it, no I enjoy reading very much, but I struggle to keep attention on books that aren't interesting enough. And about losing items, I deffinitely don't have that trouble, because I've studied organizing, use checklists, have systems, and check my belongings. And for things that require mental strain, I hyperfocus on writing, so that deffinitely is a joy, not a struggle, but what qualifies as mental strain? Is providing important documents to your employer a mental strain? I totally suck at that, but it only takes like 5 minutes, which doesn't seem much compared to writing a massive novel.
The pre-screening I did before a visit to the doctor only had 6 questions that weren't as broad, and therefore easy to answer. I haven't yet watched the whole video, so it might still come up. Anyway from that my result was 6/6. For comparison I asked my husband to do it, and he got 0/6.
Same. My issue with the questions is the word “often.” What is often? Surely everyone experiences these symptoms occasionally, so what then qualifies as “often” by comparison?
I have been treating myself for symptoms of ADHD for over 2 decades, but I only realized that’s what I was doing a few years ago. I thought I was just really immature and needed to grow up, but there was something fundamentally broken in me that wouldn’t let me. So I started systematically structuring my environment around my “inadequacies.” When I need to take something with me in the morning when I leave the house, I don’t put it on the kitchen table where I’ll forget it, I put it on the passengers seat of my car. I have duplicates of cleaning supplies all over the house, so when I need to clean a bathroom, I don’t need to hunt down the cleaner. I use Pomodoro timers and body doubling videos to help me focus on work/school. I have alarms set on my phone for important things I can’t miss, like taking my kid to preschool or picking her back up - in some cases, I have alarms set to warn me that I need to wrap up what I’m doing and then another alarm 10 minutes later to indicate it’s time to drop whatever I’m doing and put on my shoes to go.
These “treatment” came over time and at great expense with lots of trial and error, and the next time I move to a new house or start a new job, etc., they’ll all go to shit and I’ll have to start over again to implement a new system, but when I get a system in place, it WORKS. The difference is magical. For that reason, if you ask me these questions at different times in my life - now, 20 years ago, after I go back to work in a couple of years - you’ll get very different answers.
@laurenditmar2776 the way you said "immature" and "fundamentally broken", it's 100% the same for me!
Dr. Barkley, you are the only person who does not have ADHD but who regularly speaks about it that I trust, because you are the only person who does not have ADHD that actually understands and empathizes with what it's like to have it. I love and appreciate you so much. Thank you for consistently showing up for us in ways that actually help and make us feel seen, heard, understood, and respected. THANK YOU!!! ❤❤❤
He spent his life's career researching, treating and presenting/educating about ADHD. I think he has a family member with ADHD. See his other presentations for other organizations....hilarious stories (if they weren't so real in life)...especially for adults with ADHD. Fishing stories, etc.
I'm 37 - I don't have an official diagnosis and honestly I probably won't get one, but I recently came to the conclusion that I have inattentive ADHD. My husband starting pointing out things that I do so I started looking into it. I scored 9/9, 2/9, 4/5 😮😮. I know I struggled with a lot of things but putting this into perspective is mind blowing. I believe my 16 year old son has Inattentive ADHD as well, I'm going to test him tonight. Thank you for all that you do.
good luck. And you got this!
@@tabor503 thank you!
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD changed the way I understood my ADHD. Up until then I was left to blunder my way through medication and life because no-one had adequately explained it to me; ever! Thank you so much❤
need to add to your checklist: says they will get it later, usually referring to putting something away or completing a task, and not getting it for days and having to be constantly reminded.
would this not be the same question as failing to achieve promises made to others?
This was amazing. The only reason I don't lose all those items constantly is bc I have made systems for all of it! I used to be much worse! 7 yes on the 1st list, 8 yes on the 2nd. 6 on list 3. Also I'm 55 years old and consider myself to be quite hyper, barely sit down and my mind is always racing.
This I think is what’s missing from the diagnostic criteria. Intelligent people will build elaborate systems of guardrails to fend off the “impairment” label. But that doesn’t make it any less exhausting to constantly maintain the guardrails day in and day out.
@@eric-seastrand great point! I didn't know anything was wrong with me so I figured a way around a lot of it. The worst for me is my memory and my mom constantly asking why my memory is so bad. Hers is amazing so she doesn't get it!!!
I saw a video somewhere else that made this point in a funny way. If you answer any of these questions with "no, because I have a system for that!" please know that normal people do not need a system for that. lol
Yes, systems are the key. If ppl can figure out the systems that work best for them and consistently work for them. ie, the car keys are always put in the same place every time you are in the house. The cell phone never goes outside while I work in the yard...unless it has a bright fluorescent orange waterproof case...but far easier to leave it inside the house. (It is good to be unconnected...much less to distract you.) I now have a cooler bag that I put my water in when working in the yard...otherwise I loose the water bottle as I chipmunk my way around the yard. And whomever designed yard tools to be colored green....ought to have to look for the green colored tools in a green yard...then they may have gotten a clue that need to be other colors.
When I got formally diagnosed, the psychiatrist said I had 9 out of 9 inattentiveness symptoms (this was at the age of 30!). Any time I do anything, it's like working on a laptop that restarts itself every 5 minutes, with almost no RAM. I'm on Vyvanse, which makes it...restart maybe every 10 minutes, hah. Still almost-no-RAM. And it overclocks with perpetual hypervigilance, in an attempt to compensate. My biggest saving grace in life was I figured out the "low-fee index fund in a tax-sheltered account" thing at a young age. Any shopping feels exhausting, so I just have an abnormally high savings rate and don't spend money. Probably the weirdest thing about me is how financially well I'm doing, despite a low income and a profoundly impaired executive function.
Yes & yes & yes again - I’m too old to be finding this out now !
Your talks improve so many lives! Thank you!
Glad you think so!
Please be mindful when you do this. This is still outdated on noticing Women's awesome Masking skills.
Dr. Buckley please do a video on that, because i was only diagnosed in my early 30s once all my masking skills couldnt keep up. Thank you.
Noted. thanks for watching.
His last name is BARKLEY.
@russellbarkleyphd2023 agreed - 9/9 on inatentive. The second hyperactivity symptoms for me were 1/9, but only because they all happen on the inside. I have the strong urge to, but I don't. I finish people's sentences in my head, I have racing thoughts, I need to exert so much control over myself in a conversation to hold back and wait. I bite my lip, tap my foot or sway constantly, and need to remind myself to stop. I note that it was acknowledged at the end that it's less common in adults, but this was true of me as a young girl, too, I learned very early, before primary school, to keep it on the inside. So much so that I was not diagnosed until my 30s. 9/9 for the adult. section.
Scored 8, 8 and 7. Decided to take a short break between the first and second columns, only to remember I hadn't finished it 4 hours later...
Seems fairly consistent with other tests I've tried. Unfortunately the local services are refusing to diagnose adults where I live, despite referrals from GPs, so no luck there.
33 year old female undiagnosed. 7, 6, and 5. It's starting to affect my life. I'm so grateful to find you. It's moving me to take action.
I answered 9/9 out of inattentive and 9/9 for hyperactiveness.
Oh good I'm not the only hyper one 😆
me too and im reading this and commenting while the video is still golng
Yes yes. Me too. And im Doing the dishes and Play with the toddler
I’m at least 8/9 in both. I had to rewind this video a couple times because I started surfing the internet and messaging my friend while this was playing.
Ayup. And I'm painting, smoking a cigarette and still listening to the video. Ugh.
Thank you for this. This will help a lot of people. Your instructions and walkthrough of each symptom was really nice.
Also, learned the word "cogitate" today! Don't think I've ever heard that till now lol
I had to start over because I didn't hear him say start in column 1 because I got distracted by a random thought. I answered Yes to all questions. I'm 39. 😩😮💨
*hugs* same. 35
Me too !
He has a video about these thoughts that are very distracting and it was very helpful to me. ❤
"I didnt hear him..because I got distracted by a random thought." 😢 Saaaame! At 40. Always was aware of these symptoms of mine, never thought they were ALL ADHD. And being untreated for so long has made them a lot worse.
Thank you so much for these tests, am sincerely grateful. I am 62 and have struggled all my life and never knew what was wrong with me constantly spinning my wheels. . . until a couple friends suspected I was ADHD and I started looking into it. I just gave 6-7 Yes answers to all three questioners. It is about time to get some help!
😅 yes to all but 1 question. I was diagnosed 3 years ago. Was definitely a relief when I finally got diagnosed.
Man.
I'm completely and totally fucked. I am a strong and immediate yes to all of the innatentive symptoms, and a handful of the hyperavtive ones but to a lesser extent. I think some of that manifests in my doing the chicken game thing with my hands and constantly biting my lips to the point where they're visibly damaged, and just being unable to stick on a thought whatsoever.
I have medical bills i can pay and havent. I havent filed my taxes in 3 years, nor have I done this years taxes yet. I have to be hounded about every little responsibility in my life. My girlfriend is constantly complaining about me not listening to her when shes talking, and i even notice myself doing it fairly often. I never call off from work but always have a ton of points because im tardy every day, even if i wake up early, ill find some way to piss the time i saved away. Part of that issue is i never want to go to bed. Even if i tell myself i NEED to, i have to, I will opt to do something else when push comes to shove, usually play video games. Video games are basically the only thing I enjoy. I cant even sit through a movie without getting physically uncomfortable.
I started drinking at 16, it got worse at 18, and i binge drank 4-5 nights a week, a fifth or more of vodka a night until i was 23. Had a complete meltdown one night in 2020, and stopped immediately but replaced it with kratom, and have since replaced kratom with marijuana but less often.
Im afraid i will just be told im depressed and handed ssris, but i genuinely dont believe that to be case. I dont think i experience sadness or anxiety that feels unwarranted very often if at all. Most of those things come from my complete inability to get my fucking life together no matter how many times i say im going to. Not brushing my teeth forever has led to huge dental issues, of which i then put off even going to the dentist for for another 2 years. Only in the lasy few months have i actually learned what adhd really is in adults and i feel like it is a checklist designed specifically for my entire life. I just feel like a complete fuck up every day and it is infuriating that im doing it to myself.
I feel you man, your story is so relatable to me. I’m pretty sure that my anxiety and depression was caused by growing up with untreated adhd. Am trying meds now and they’re helping with all the concentration and attention issues. I feel immediately more capable and more secure to just do life, which is reducing my anxiety because I no longer need to be hyper vigilant about messing up. With untreated adhd I never knew what I was messing up or why and had no idea how to do anything except from a place of shame. I used drinking to blunt those dark feelings but was left empty and numb. Maybe adhd treatment could help you too, any way I wish you well
Maybe you have sct/ cds.
I heavily relate to this.
I've always thought maybe I have ADHD my whole life but I also never really understood what it was and never experienced most of the hyperactivity symptoms so I just wrote it off. I then started to notice an unstable and wavy decline of my mental health recently, realized that it's been happening for like 6 or more years and considered I possibly have a minor form of bipolar (cyclothymia) so I started talking to my friend who has ADHD about how I've been feeling recently and he said it really sounds like ADHD especially with my use of caffeine to regulate myself to feel normal and focused several times a day.
So I'm thinking I might have ADHD-I since I have like 70% of the symptoms, the only thing stopping me from going to see a doctor is the embarrassment of not having it and not having an excuse for my weird and lazy behaviors.
@@RoachEatsVipers just go to doctor they're professional its their job, also see if you have sct or cds.
@@RoachEatsVipers Sounds like me. The more I learn about ADHD the more I realize how well it characterizes my entire life. Lazy, procrastinator, reckless, impulsive, impatient. I posted a few comments about not wanting to get diagnosed. Then it occurred to me that all my logical reasons for not going might be my brain trying to avoid a big mess of emotions. Out of sheer impulse I drove to a clinic. They were closed, appointment only. I was in such a rush I didn't check their hours! Left a voicemail, then got a call back and made an appointment for 1 month from now. But I couldn't wait that long, called back and moved it up to next week. Delay-averse behavior. If you have ever considered getting tested but then decided not to for various reasons, I'd say just do it lol. Rip the bandaid off. I will find out myself soon enough.
9 yes’s inattention, 8 yes’s impulsive. I am significantly impaired in every single area of my life.
I'm in a similar boat, only a few less than you. I'm concerned about access to a physician to get a diagnosis, though. I'm pretty high functioning, but I went into the arts so it kinda works out?
Exactly the same score
I also have developmentally inappropriate and consistent with child with ADHD as an adult. 8 on each.
I am only just becoming aware of my neurodiversity. I appreciate learning from your videos and approach. Your voice is very soothing as well.
magnificent; thank you Dr. Barkley. Its refreshing to hear this rather than (as has happened with me) that some psychiatrists are quick to label some of these as hypmania or hyperthymic personality traits. well done.
Dr Barkley you severely underestimate my impatience at going thru each question😂 glad i can speed up the audio
I feel you! on top of that, sped up to 1,25, I never once stopped the video when told to do so 🤣
My hyperactive score 3, Inattentive 6. But as kid, hyperactive would have been almost all of them lol. As adult, it's mainly a sense of needing to be busy, doing stuff, tension. In social settings, needing to talk and struggling with listening. But I mask it a lot. I often feel a lot of energy inside. As a kid, I walked round classroom, disrupted others, didn't sit still during story times, mum constantly chasing after me.
Inattentive 9/9 H/I 2/9
Home? Yes. Education? Yes. Work? Yes. Social situations? Yes. Daily responsibilities? Yes. 5/5
Barkley's "best" adult ADHD symptoms 9/9
A couple days before I watched this vid, I scheduled a test. But I couldn't wait a whole month so I called back and pushed it up to next week lol. I'm so cooked.
Love this video, doc! Many of us who are diagnosed with ADHD, as well as other ND's like autism (I'm diagnosed with both autism and ADHD), we all had a self-discovery process before we then decided to get a diagnosis.
This is helpful for anyone going through that period of self-discovery!
Greetings Dr Barkley. Thank you for spending time for ongoing education. Can you please spend one session on diets which have been effective and have evidence in management of ADHD like DASH, Mediterranean, elimination, …
Regards
Soo…who else answered yes to ALL (but one, I’m OCD so I have zero issues with organization) of the DSM and Dr. Barkley’s questions? Just me????
I was diagnosed 2yrs ago at age 41 but I was still laughing while listening to this on my drive home today. Especially to the driving part. You would’t believe how many/how much speeding tickets cost me as well as 3 accidents and knee injuries later….It was still fun listening and re-affirming what my son and I have shared in common.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD is a game changer for this ADHDer. I am reading Is It You Me or ADD. Again a game changer. Two books I recommend as a must read. Oh one more Driven to Distraction.
thanks so much. kind of you to say so.
Well, how am I supposed to answer the first question, if i`ve been making mistakes at school and sometimes at work and now i`m 46 and double-triple check everything ar avoid tasks where I know I can make a mistake?
Yea, you can definitely check that box, its a coping mechanism for your faults. Normal people; I find, dont have to do that for practically everything.
Inattention: 8/9
H/I: 5/9
I already have my formal diagnosis, though.
I got 8 ok each row😂 I've been diagnosed but it's still interesting. Developmentally delayed yes lol I have excelled in life but nuch later, life was very difficult until about 30 when I started to learn to cope. Still struggle fut finally have my ish together! 😂❤🎉
Is it gonna get better for me, I'm turning 26 soon. Feels like I wasted my whole life up to this point
@@legoguru3000 it will get better! I'm 37, married with 5 kids and life is fun. Everyday is different and can bring different challenges, but that's expected. Keep up the great work! You've got this 😊
@@Fruit732 🙏
i got 5/9 inattentive, 1/9 HI, 3/5 in interfere, 6/9 adult symptoms.. i may never seek a diagnosis, but i decided to implement dr. barkley's recommended strategies in his book on adult adhd just the same. i began externalizing (writing out with pen and paper) everything i need to do, random thoughts, mundane thoughts, etc. it's helping me to at least keep better track of stuff done and not done yet. it honestly felt different from just listing it out on a phone or computer. whether i have adhd or not, dr. barkley is helping me out.
its fascinating that i've been on antidepressants for decades for anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression. However, i've always had what i believe to be attentional and hyperactive symptoms. I think i answered yes to 12 out of the 18. It will be interesting to see how ADHD meds possibly give me more relief than the SSRIs. well done Dr. B!
I scored 5, 3, and 4, but I also feel like I've put in place a lot of strategies and coping mechanisms, including the massive livestyle change of becoming a minimalist stay-at-home homeschooling mom with a casual job that has no firm deadlines 🤷
Hello Dr Barkley, thank you for another valuable content.
It would be great if you make a video about the differences and overlap between character traits and ADHD symptoms.
Most of us frequently feels that what we knew as our personality was actually symtomps and it is a very complicated kind of grief.
Eg I know tons of trivial facts on many topics because I frequently spend hours online jumping from topic to topic.
Now that I see it is related to ADHD.
My dad completed a rating scale too (pre-assessment) and he gave me a higher score than I gave myself, which was interesting.I'm complicated as I'm autistic and have OCD, so this might affect how the traits appear in me somewhat. The psychiatrist will hopefully be able to disentangle everything when I have my assessment. I had so much help from parents growing up with school work and organization, managing deadlines etc. They scaffolded me a lot. I had reading comprehension issues, number difficulties, spatial issues. If interested in something I can learn and that's all I think about, but I can't manage adult life - forms, cleaning, all that. Anything that is not interesting is neglected, my brain just seizes up. Focusing feels mechanical for me, like it uses a lot of brain power, so I often procrastinate, which annoys me because I could be more productive. I envy people who can read a book for relaxation. I love reading but I have to read aloud to ensure I stay on track and to help me comprehend the text, it's never relaxing.
Lets go! 98% right answers!
Very helpful. Got 6/5/8 for each test respectively! Definitely need to get checked out
I was diagnosed at 7 but here i am still taking this test. I got 17/18. 9 for inattentive, 8 for HI.
Just bought the book Russell
Love your videos it’s helped me beyond belief
thank you!
8/9 and 5/8 ( yes ,I somehow missed a question in the second column 😂) The 4 I answered no to were because I worked hard on them and consciously suppress my impulses.
Do you have a similar "diagnostic" video for cognitive disengagement syndrome? I'm fairly certain I have both ADHD and CDS, but I was hoping that you might have something I could use to explain/define my behaviours to a psychiatrist next time I manage to see one.
There is a review article noted in the description of the CDS lectures. It is open access to the public. Print it out from the journal website and take to your doctor to back up your concerns. The review shows the best 12 symptoms for diagnosis. Having at least four occurring often or more puts one well above the norm at the 93-95th percentile.
Congrats on the book!
thanks!
One of these questions is unclear to me - Do you often have difficulty engaging in tasks quietly - does that mean that I, myself, am being quiet, or that I have difficulty doing a task unless I have extraneous noise like coffee shop noise, a podcast, music, etc.?
Me too I had to think twice before answering
Inattention: 9/9, H/I: as an adult 6/9 (looking back to my childhood it would be 9/9) :: Barkley's List 9/9
I dont have a drivers license because i am disabled. ( i can drive certain cars but it is hassle to get a hold of one)
I use max speed on my electric wheelchair... BECAUSE IT IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TO DO SO!
when you think about it i am almost always running when i am outside!
Even with my disability i am hyperactive psychically even when my god dam bones hurt when i move.
This makes so much sense now.
It makes so much dam sense!
Yes to everything except for losing things (Usually). I have systems, my backpack for example:
- Front pocket: Tobacco & lighter, wallet & keys, earphones.
- Middle pocket: Phone charger, sunglasses, maybe meds.
- Main compartment: Hoodie/jacket, water bottle, things I might use or get that particular day unless they make more sense in the other sections.
- Separate sleeve in main compartment: Books, iPad, notebook and pencil or pen.
Pretty grateful about my head being joint to my body.
Some people say that having a system at all is a sign.
I used to say that I was never late for things, but that's because I would get there an hour or two early to *make sure* I wasn't late.
Once I got a car and had the ability to leave later to get to places "on time", that's when I started being late to things.
Column 1 5 yes column 2 3 yes i checked no on number 7 and 8 because i've learned to manage these situations
Inattention scored 6. The ones I didn't score on were making mistakes, if anything I'm over focused on detail (being autistic). And I'm not too forgetful ( my synaesthesia probably compensates for this, although I was forgetful at school as a kid and was in Special Ed class for this). Also my OCD compensates against losing items, but that said I often can't find things as I can't organize for toffee. I am waiting assessment. Right, now onto the hyperactive one...
2/9, 1/9, 2/9. Might be +1 in first or third. Dr. Barkley, if I likely don’t have adhd, can anxiety disorder and or depression cause the points that I said yes to?
Yes. See my lecture on cognitive disengagement syndrome as that could be the alternative. Be well.
Congratulations for the bool 🎉 I also recommend buying it!
The fact that people need a pause to count to 9 makes my result feel a lot less disabling lol
8/9 Inattentive.
4/9 Hyperactive/Impulsive.
8.5/9 Adult ADHD.
For trait 5 in the Adult ADHD list, I listed it as half a point because if I made a commitment to someone else with someone else (Meeting up for an event) then I can lock myself in for that, even though I may be late on the day.
But if I make a commitment to myself for someone else (I'm going to send someone a package at some point), that's when I lose track of myself.
I just threw out a mug I was going to gift somebody for Christmas two years ago.
My father and brother have it I'm pretty sure my mother is undiagnosed. took me nearly 20 years but I'm finally getting a professional screening.
I love this man! Thank you for all you do Doc Barkley!
We all love him! 😁
thank you both. I am deeply touched by your support.
There should have emotional dysregulation question too
Im am 34 years old undiagnosed and awaiting my screening and evaluation in about 2 months. While listening to this video and following the tasks i was wondering about how many people might answer the screening questions differently because of social pressure in the sense of "i dont want to be perceived as having troubles with managing my workload" or (and until recently i felt myself in a similar spot:) "i dont have problems with the questions asked because my environment already is excepting of my deficiencies". For example my wife and colleagues luckily already are a lot more patient with me than i am with myself. Not the same goes for my siblings and parents who always had difficulties accepting my behaviour and rather took it as insults, ignorance or arrogance. I dont want to be perceived as such by them and i am certain that i am not perceived as such by my wife and coworkers.
This is very interesting, I get 6 inattentive / 3 hyperactive, but only 5 on the new Barkley scale. I am diagnosed (inattentive presentation) - I wonder if I am a statistical anomaly for the new set of questions.
My 5yo is on a waiting list and ticks 4 inattentive / 7 hyperactive. It is interesting to compare applying the questions to my own experience of myself vs my external observation of my child. It feels like a very different task. It's a good idea to have different screening criteria for adults. I will look in the book to see if it says how these new criteria were made.
Thank you for this video and for your work.
My pleasure!
Thank you for this very helpful video
Ugh… I already knew I have Adhd but I literally answered yes to everything. I must be an absolute nightmare to be around. That’s depressing. My partner is a saint for putting up with me. 😭
inattention[8/9] and impulse [8/9] and pervasive [5/5] and barkleys [8/9].
I'm 41 and life isn't that bad. Every now and then everything around you crashes down, but you'll survive. I also know that whatever I do, there is a big chance I will break it or find other ways to turn it into shit.
If you didn't pause the video and get a piece of paper... you might have ADHD
I skipped past that bit and just now find out about it in the comments before I got to the 6 minute mark.
Or if you made a spreadsheet instead you might be AuDHD 🤣
I went to get a piece of paper and couldn't decide if graph paper would work or if it had to be lined. I chose the lined, but then got distracted by a project I had started and left out and began monkeying with that, then I remembered to take the paper back to my computer to do the test. Scored 8, 3 and 9, respectively. I've been waiting just over a year to get tested, but I think older adults don't have priority.
Is this a throwback to the Rick Green video of unofficial ADHD test because I loved that video, wish it was still online. So funny and clever.
The question on the 3rd set about driving too fast seems really age dependent. When I was younger, yes, I tended to drive fast. Now, at 54, I am the complete opposite. I basically delegate driving to a different part of my brain and I think about other things and often drive slower than everyone else. I am 100% not hyperactive though (0 yeses on test 2)
I don't drive fast bc I do not want to get tickets but I would like to drive a lot faster 😅
Yeah, that question threw me off a bit too. Most times I don't drive faster than others, but when I had a daily commute I did because I was always late getting out the door. But the second part I know can be a problem. I've had it pointed out by my family on several occasions that Im getting too loud when doing something fun. I tend to talk to myself a lot when working on something I enjoy.
That question threw me off, too.
Scored 5/9 on that scale as i answered this no - would answer the alternative with yes, though. (Inattention 8/9, HI 2/9, Interference 4/5; no diagnosis as of yet)
Because i *almost* caused a crash several years ago, due to being rather careless. Or, you could say, inattentive. At a speed that could have easily caused serious harm, maybe a fatality. Would have involed others, which terrified me even more as i realized it.
Changed my driving behavior rather quickly after that. I still might sometimes go over the speed limit, but only if i am distracted, and even then only slightly. Moat of the time, i adhere to the speed limit like a creed.
Acceleration after a traffic light or similar is still rather quick though.
Something similar is true for some other questions, true.
For example:
Do i reply before others finish sentences? No.
Would i like to? If i got what you're up to, then hell yes. This lead to some heated arguments with friends though, so i stopped doing that.
Then again, this is a screening only, right? At a diagnostic appointment, i can bring this up, and have it accounted for.
[Edit: I have no clue what my point was exactly. To clarify: i got distracted twice while writing this, but i'll leave it anyway.]
9/9 Inattentive
8/9 Hyp/Imp
5/5 Interfere
9/9 Adult
🏆 😑
Was finally diagnosed at 39.
Idk if you're going to see this or not but I answered yes to like every question how do I get diagnosed?
@@jhondouglas1969I looked up a psychiatrist in my area and made an appointment. I looked for one who specialized in ADHD. Good luck! 🍀
Got diagnosed with 6/9 A. C. Inattentive 6/9 A. C Hyperactive
So Combined ADHD
Also B,C,D and not E
But I reckon could have had more
54 years old and diagnosed but had it all my life
Im wondering if this test gets slightly skewed with Adult ADD and Autism or introverted personalities?
Exactly! I was unable to answer questions that seemed too vague. And I think the questionnaire ignores possibility of special interests.
I have adhd so bad. It's ridiculous even to me. It has ruined my life bc I cant wait for even a minute for good things to come to my life. I have to just accept what is there immediately which usually is no good, not good enough or bad.
Couldn’t even make it thru 2 questions and was zoned out lolll
I got yes on all of Inattentive criteria and 5 on H/I lmao of course. I am diagnosed Predominately Inattentive after all lol
My 1st grade teacher recommended ADHD testing for me because I wasn't completing my classwork as fast as the other kids. So much so that she would have me stay in from recess to finish coloring and cutting out my worksheet. The results of my childhood screening "She has the attention span of a 5 year old."
Sometime in my mid twenties i got my official Ilinattentive ADHD diagnosis and started meds.
My mom was like "you don't have ADHD, i had you tested."
8 out of 18? I’m like 16 out of 18. I just don’t understand how I’m 37 countless parent teacher conferences, countless parent counselor meetings, testing for special needs classes only to be told he’s answered things no one else has ever answered. “Oh he’s just lazy then?” “yup, I guess so.” And no one ever thought maybe it’s adhd. I wasn’t very hyper not like my friends who would actually bounce off walls. But looking back it’s always been in my head. I was grounded for damn near 6 years straight because of my grades. Occasionally I had short stints during summer if I could pull it all together to get like a 1.8 GPA. I never looked into AdHD until this week and it’s just mind blowing
9/9, 4/9, 4/5, 6/9 - Oh boy. BTW I took this test while at work because I got distracted. 😅 I am going to get evaluated but it’s expensive. I am currently saving up.
BTW, you most definitely CAN reproduce portions of the DSM for educational purposes.
Note that UA-cam automatically generates a written transcript of what Dr. Barkley is saying. You can copy the text instead of writing it down.
I didn’t know that. thanks for educating me.
The computer AI generates the transcript and the subtitles but sometimes it doesn't get it correct. The computer can't correct for context so it can't tell the difference between bear and bare or pair and pear. So sometimes there are odd words tossed it. The slower someone speaks it is better for the computer to actually pick up the individual words. Dr. Barkley has clear enunciation of words and rate of speech is fairly slow...so it should be able to pick it up. Some ppl like to ensure that the subtitles and transcript are correct, so they'll go through the transcript to make sure the words fit the speech. Google is the translator that YT uses to translate the subtitles...so for some vids...it would be better to ensure the computer got the correct words....then it can be more accurately translated. Depending upon what flavor of the language that someone speaks...the translation may not be entirely correct. For example, google uses Brazilian Portuguese to translate from English to Portuguese. But if you are in Portugal ...trying to use google to translate...won't necessarily give you the European Portuguese vocabulary and especially different pronunciation. I don't know which flavor of English that google uses to translate from other languages. (Flavor of English: UK, US, Australia, African English, India English, Polynesian English...)
problem is that i don't know if i willingly change the answers or not because i've thought about the topic a lot the past months (to an excessive amount like in a special interest lol). I also can concentrate and sit still and do "boring" things but these are bound to specific social and enviormental situations
Question number 10: Did you open another tab and check twitter at any point during this test?
Jokes aside. I'm almost 30, never considered ADHD, psychological issues all my life, high IQ, low executive function, life is a struggle. 8/9 points on inattetion, 4/9 on hyperactivity. Time to get tested. Thank you Dr Barkley!
I may need to go around asking people to answer at least the inattentive questions to confirm that the majority of people do not do these things often. Lol. I got 6/9, 3/9, 7/9 -- but I think the inattentive would have been higher if I did not have systems in place to double & triple check things.
This is so good
About being significantly impaired... My home is a mess, but it only becomes a true impairment when people would be coming over. And for my asthma of course, far too much dust. What does impairment mean? I don't have kids, so having clean laundry in the machine for a week isn't that big of an issue.
For education, it depends on the circumstances and teachers. There are significant variables. For example I've understood that arts are a safe haven for ADHDers.
I've never had a regular job for a longer period of time, so it's impossible to say how much my job performance would be impaired. So being asked this question I'd reply with "I don't know". Though I might add it seems impossible for me to have a long time, regular 9-5 job, as even the thought of such regularity gives me stress.
Crap I got to 17/18 as an adult. The hyperactive were much more strong yes. The first 9 were definitely yes but more things I’d assume other deal with too but maybe it’s just because I know no difference
If you got distracted while the video was paused and ended up continuing the screening hours (or more) after starting it...
Well Im 36 and I got 9 - 6 -9. I've been meaning to get a diagnosis for ages, but I keep forgetting or getting distracted until it's too late to call and make an appointment... write down a reminder note.. then forget/ignore or lose the note... and repeat😅
Not me as a recently diagnosed ADHDer answering 9 out of 9 from the first column and 6 out of 9 in the second one. 😂 My impostor syndrome has been appeased for a bit.
Tha😊nk
... across the whole board, everyone marked yes T.T
I really need to go to the doc
I never loose things. I simply put them in a way I can't find them easily. So yes or no?
I often watch videos on facebook (on my phone) and while watching I'm thinking about things in the video and want to look it up on google so I want to get my phone to look it up but I can't find my phone 😒 so then I end up searching for my phone while I'm holding my phone in my hand 🤦♀️😅... And this happens quite often 😅....
when he said do you often start a task without reading the description carefully
I wrote yes after he said do you often start a task
7,5/9 on the Barkley list. When I hyperfocus, I'm giving that leisure activity my whole. The only big no thing was driving faster than others, because I'm very concious about not trying to kill anyone. Women typically have higher levels of empathy, so could this question be biased against women?
I answered yes to all of them. But I learned I have ADHD 2 years ago and it was confirmed.
6/9 for the second part. To note I am 38.
No dad joke? 😢
just on Saturdays in the research reviews. sorry!
@@russellbarkleyphd2023 Thanks for the clarification. Looking forward to it!
I already got diagnosed with adhd by a psychiatrist but i feel like i am just a failure and i probably don’t have adhd. I feel somehow guilty of having adhd.
Then watch this whole video
I don't understand #6 of the "Barkley's best symptoms" - what is a 'proper order or sequence' ?
For instance to fry an egg you need to put the egg in the pan before the egg goes on the stove, but I can't imagine anyone putting the egg on the stove before looking for a pan (unless they were very distracted at that particular moment, but that doesn't seem likely to be "often" even with severe ADHD (?) ). On the other hand, there *is* no right order between putting the pan on the stove, turning the stove on, putting the egg in the pan, adding salt, or finding a spatula. So this criteria must (?) be referring to something functionally in between those two sorts of scenarios?
I got 6 in each column.
looking the video i lost like 6 times and need to rewind 🤷🏻♂️... happens a lot