Question: I, an adult who has never been diagnosed, always got great grades at school because I was a great test-taker (cramming was very effective for me). However, I've always struggled to remember things and I have great difficulty  getting started on doing work / completing work unless a deadline is approaching. I was never hyperactive, even as a child, and so my psychiatrist is skeptical of ADHD.
  
  My doctor wants me to take a 20-minute QB test before diagnosis, but I am concerned that my test-taking aptitude will somehow muddle the results. What is your experience with the effectiveness of such a test for adults and the different presentations of ADHD (and specifically high-performing)?
Answer: QB test cannot diagnose ADHD.  The only diagnostic tool for ADHD is a licensed clinician who interviews the patient about their symptoms and impairments. Rating scales about symptoms and impairments can be helpful but don't replace an interview. In the World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement on ADHD ([https://bit.ly/3xCr9NE](https://bit.ly/3xCr9NE)),  we concluded that ADHD can only be diagnosed by a licensed clinician who interviews the parent or caregiver and/or patient to document criteria for the disorder. It cannot be diagnosed by rating scales alone, neuropsychological tests, or methods for imaging the brain.  Neuropsychological testing can be very useful for other purposes but not for diagnosing ADHD.
content: Q: I, an adult who has never been diagnosed, always got great grades at school because I was a great test-taker (cramming was very effective for me). However, I've always struggled to remember things and I have great difficulty  getting started on doing work / completing work unless a deadline is approaching. I was never hyperactive, even as a child, and so my psychiatrist is skeptical of ADHD.
  
  My doctor wants me to take a 20-minute QB test before diagnosis, but I am concerned that my test-taking aptitude will somehow muddle the results. What is your experience with the effectiveness of such a test for adults and the different presentations of ADHD (and specifically high-performing)?
   Ans: QB test cannot diagnose ADHD.  The only diagnostic tool for ADHD is a licensed clinician who interviews the patient about their symptoms and impairments. Rating scales about symptoms and impairments can be helpful but don't replace an interview. In the World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement on ADHD ([https://bit.ly/3xCr9NE](https://bit.ly/3xCr9NE)),  we concluded that ADHD can only be diagnosed by a licensed clinician who interviews the parent or caregiver and/or patient to document criteria for the disorder. It cannot be diagnosed by rating scales alone, neuropsychological tests, or methods for imaging the brain.  Neuropsychological testing can be very useful for other purposes but not for diagnosing ADHD.