Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been in the news recently with celebrities such as actress Sheridan Smith and singer Jessie J going public with their diagnoses.
Chronic illness disrupts daily life and manifests as carelessness, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Adults with ADHD may have trouble following through on tasks, concentrating at work, paying attention to others, and remembering their responsibilities. This can make the person feel irritable, frustrated, and like they’re losing control.
Based on the premise that knowledge is power, American intuitive psychologist Dr. Carmen Harra has developed the following questionnaire to help you understand whether you might have ADHD.
Consider the questions below to determine whether you should seek a professional evaluation.
American psychologist Dr Carmen Harra has created a questionnaire to help you understand whether you might have ADHD (file photo)
1. The last time I forgot an important appointment or obligation was:
A. Within the last week.
B. Within the last month.
C. Within the last year.
D. More than a year ago.
2. Complete the following sentence. For me, the tasks that require organization are ____.
A. Almost impossible to complete.
B. Very difficult to complete.
C. It is not that difficult to complete.
D. Nice and easy to complete.
3 When I have to sit for a long time, I start to feel restless and fidgety.
A. I totally agree.
B. I kind of agree.
C. I slightly disagree.
D. I totally disagree.
4. If I could compare my mind to a place or event, it would be:
A. A Formula One race: speed and adrenaline.
B. The Las Vegas Strip: lots to see and do.
C. The Amazon rainforest: balance and abundance.
D. A beach in the Maldives: quiet and relaxing.
5. I make careless and avoidable mistakes.
A. Always.
B. Often.
C. Rarely.
D. Never.
People with ADHD can be very sensitive to noise and may have difficulty tuning into a conversation if there are other conversations going on in the background (stock image)
6. When someone talks to me:
A. I stop paying attention after the first few minutes.
B. I can pay attention, but I am easily distracted.
C. I can pay attention for a good length of time.
D. I can pay attention to the person until he or she finishes speaking.
7. When I find a task boring or monotonous, I lose concentration easily. But when I find an activity interesting, I tend to concentrate fully.
A. I totally agree.
B. I kind of agree.
C. I slightly disagree.
D. I totally disagree.
8. I consider that relaxing at the end of the day is:
A. Extremely difficult: my engine is always running.
B. Difficult: It takes me a long time to quiet my mind.
C. Pretty easy – it takes me a few minutes to get comfortable.
D. Extremely easy. I start to feel relaxed on the way home.
9. Finish the following sentence. Tasks that require a lot of thought, I ____.
A. Avoid it at all costs.
B. Delay as much as possible.
C. Start on time.
D. Start immediately.
10. I feel hyperactive.
A. Always.
B. Often.
C. Rarely.
D. Never.
11. I feel intense discomfort when I have to wait in a long line, wait my turn to be served, or am stuck in a situation with no activity.
A. I totally agree.
B. I kind of agree.
C. I slightly disagree.
D. I totally disagree.
12. I lose my patience and get angry, frustrated or irritated:
A. Very quickly. It doesn’t take much to make me lose control.
B. Quickly. I admit that I don’t have much tolerance.
C. Slowly. I have a pretty decent tolerance.
D. Very slowly. It takes a lot to make me angry.
