Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment 2E testing for adults

This is not the typical testing question, so please bear with me... though ignore the next paragraph of background info if you prefer...

While we are still on the journey to assessing LOGs and label/s for DD#1 it is pretty clear that she is 2E. I would say it's likely that DH and I are MGish, that DH has ADHD and I may have something going on as well. So we have a house with three gifted kids - one of whom is significantly bothered by other Es, one who is HG (possibly with ADD) and a toddler with an unknown LOG and possible speech impediment. And husband/father who is likely 2E. As you can no doubt imagine I feel like my head may explode trying to keep us all under control most days. I completely reached the end of my rope a few weeks ago and insisted that DH be tested, and if necessary treated, for ADHD along with our eldest.

I got an email back from the psychologist's receptionist today talking about when she could fit DH in for a full psycho-educational assessment, which made me realise that I have no idea what is involved in diagnosing ADHD in an adult. Does anyone here know if it usually involves IQ testing? I was expecting a qEEG and some questionnaires to be honest. DH may not take very well to the idea of an IQ test. And if it is normal to include IQ testing does anyone know the "best" test for a likely gifted adult (he's not PG, I would expect a result 130-140 but he could surprise us in either direction).

He's not fast, if he was a child and the point was to find his imbalances, I would expect him to do poorly on the working memory and processing sections of the WISC so I would choose the WISC to identify his weaknesses... But I have no idea if the adult version has similar tests or enough headroom for a gifted adult in the more reasoning based sections?

Thank you for asking this question. Your family is so very similar to mine that it is eerie! We only have two children but DD8 is HG+/2e and toddler is same as yours. DH is also same as yours and I always wondered a little about ADD for myself as well (but I cope with it well). He has brought up the subject of pursuing testing for himself recently. I, too, had assumed it would not involve an IQ test? He may go for that, although his curiosity might get the better of him.

I first realized that some of my, ummmm...issues...were likely caused by ADD when talking to a (HG) friend, and after reading Driven to Distraction and other books on ADHD it became clear. My primary care dr. asked where I went to school and what my college GPA was and said I certainly could *not* have ADD. I disagreed and he sent me to a psych. before agreeing to a trial of medication. Basically I just talked to her for about an hour and she agreed that it was indicated. My brother (and father) have many similar issues and my brother has recently started meds as well and it has made a difference for him. I don't know if his PCP prescribed or not, but I don't think he had any IQ testing (I suspect we are all in the 130-140 range).

I would love to get a full psych-ed assessment but my insurance didn't cover it--I think it could be enlightening. You might check out the book Buzz A year of paying attention. She discusses the ways ADHD is diagnosed in adults.

Good luck!

I coped (not well, but adequately) until the 3rd kid (HG? ADHD? extreme psychomotor OE)--that was when I finally managed to get myself diagnosed! (after showing up on the wrong day for the initial appt. lol!)