ADHD symptoms are diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional: a psychiatrist, neurologist, or clinical psychologist. You can get diagnosed by a doctor, at a specialized clinic, neurophysiology center, or by a clinical psychologist. Only a psychiatrist can make a psychiatric diagnosis.

The diagnosis of ADHD in adults and children involves a comprehensive approach:
? observation and analysis of behavior, verbal and nonverbal cues (facial expressions, gestures, speech, etc.);
? clinical interview – a conversation to gather information about the symptoms;
? testing – in this case, a computerized diagnostic test called MOХO d-CPT;
? analysis of medical history to rule out other medical conditions that may have similar symptoms.

MOXO diagnostics is highly effective in measuring the following indicators:
? Attention – the ability not only to identify a target object, but also to focus on it;
? Coordination – the ability to react accurately and at the right time;
? Impulsiveness – not always well-thought-out actions: acting first and thinking later;
? Hyperactivity – excessive activity when it is not necessary.

The test consists of eight stages (levels).
During the test, various visual and auditory distractions appear on the screen (e.g., animated images or the sound of a barking dog). The stimuli appear in various combinations and time intervals, simulating distractions in real-life situations. In order to focus on seemingly simple tasks, you need to ignore distractions. Just as you have to do in real life.

The test results are quantitative values of RSD symptoms, as well as graphs of the test subject’s activity at each of the 8 stages of testing. The program generates the results immediately after the test is completed.

? MOXO kids d-CPT – for ages 6-12.
Test duration ~15 minutes, no reading of texts, letters, or numbers required. It is completely universal; stimuli are used for the appropriate age group.

? MOXO Teens & Adults d-CPT – for ages 13-70.
The test duration is approximately 20 minutes, and this version is designed to take into account the age-specific characteristics of both teenagers and adults.

HOW YOU FEEL.
I recommend taking the test in the morning when you feel most alert. Once you receive an email invitation to take the online assessment, the link to the test will be available for 45 minutes.

Try to get a good night’s sleep before taking the test. Be sure to eat breakfast. It is important that you feel well: no headache, nausea, excessive anxiety, or, conversely, fatigue and apathy.

Do not consume tea, coffee, sweets, or energy drinks before taking the test. Relaxing activities and/or physical exercise are also prohibited. It is also better to postpone taking any medication until after the test.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS.
Device: desktop computer or laptop with a keyboard.
Internet: stable connection.
Screen: resolution of at least 1024×768 pixels.
Sound: headphones or speakers.

The diagnostic protocol also requires observation. Therefore, it is important that the smartphone with our video connection is mounted on a tripod or in some other way so that I can see you and the screen, but you cannot see me, so as not to be distracted.

TEST PROCEDURE.
Duration: approximately 15 minutes for children and 20 minutes for adolescents and adults, without breaks.
Conditions: a quiet room without distractions.
Phone: turned off or in “Do Not Disturb” mode.
Concentration: focus on the task, avoid distracting thoughts and actions. Do not drink/eat, talk, or get distracted.

Inattention or hyperactivity are only symptoms, not an “automatic” diagnosis of ADHD. They may indicate other conditions, such as:

? anxiety disorders — due to constant internal tension, a person appears inattentive or fidgety;
? depression — it can cause difficulty concentrating, apathy, and “brain fog”;
? post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — outbursts of hyperactivity or impulsivity may be a reaction to triggers or partial memory loss;
? sleep problems – chronic fatigue impairs concentration and behavior regulation;
? thyroid dysfunction (e.g., hyperthyroidism) – this causes excessive activity, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

In addition, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health guideline “Guidance 00677.SDVG”:

? Hyperactivity in preschool children may be associated with autism spectrum disorder, speech disorder, motor or sensory disorders, or more extensive developmental delay.

? In schoolchildren, symptoms may be associated with learning difficulties, anxiety disorders, conduct and behavioral disorders, or depression.

? In adolescents and adults, it is important to consider affective syndrome (depressive, bipolar disorders), substance dependence, psychotic disorders (prodromal stage of schizophrenia), anxiety disorder, and emotionally unstable and antisocial personality disorders.

? Possible causes may also be related to epilepsy, other neurological disorders, or the effects of brain injury.

? Restlessness and inattention may result from sleep disorders (sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, chronic sleep deprivation).

? Traumatic experiences or ongoing stress (bullying, changes in family circumstances, loss, violence, adjustment disorder) can also cause similar symptoms.

During wartime, more and more adults are beginning to “find” symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in themselves. I wrote about the possible causes of these symptoms above—it does not necessarily have to be ADHD. That is why the MOXO objective diagnostic method exists.

It is worth consulting a specialist for MOXO diagnosis if you experience the following difficulties in your life:

? Chronic disorganization. You constantly lose, forget, or put things off. Calendars and reminders don’t help, and tasks pile up. You are constantly late because you are unable to plan your day properly.

? Problems with concentration. You are easily distracted, even when the task is interesting. Keeping your attention is a real challenge. You have to literally force yourself to finish things. Chronic procrastination, difficulties with organizing your workflow or managing your time. This can create problems at work where long periods of concentration and attention to detail are required.

? Emotional instability. Sudden mood swings, frequent outbursts of irritability or anger are typical for adults with ADHD. There is also a low level of stress tolerance, which can cause conflicts both at work and in personal life.

? Hyperactivity in new forms. Although overt hyperactivity decreases with age, it can manifest itself in adults due to internal tension, a constant feeling of restlessness, or the need to be busy. Many have difficulty relaxing or feel the need to constantly do something.

? Impulsiveness and risky behavior. Spontaneous decisions that later turn into regret: expenses, arguments, rash words or actions, financial difficulties, or risky behavior. Problems with interpersonal relationships due to impulsiveness or difficulty listening to others.

? Social and professional difficulties. Due to inattention and impulsiveness, adults may experience problems in their relationships with colleagues, friends, or partners. Frequent conflicts, inability to wait, and interrupting others create communication difficulties.

? Feeling of inner chaos. It’s like having 100 browser tabs open in your head, and each one either won’t open or has errors. It’s hard to focus and organize your thoughts and tasks.

? Exhaustion. The struggle with yourself and the daily attempts to get organized take more energy than the work itself.

? Self-esteem and psychological state. Many adults with ADHD suffer from low self-esteem because they feel like failures due to constant difficulties in performing everyday tasks. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and other emotional problems.

Seeking professional help is especially important if all of this begins to significantly affect your quality of life. Don’t wait until it gets worse; it’s better to deal with the problem in a timely manner.

Clinical guidelines from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health that mention ADHD: “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.”

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine Protocol “Guideline 00677. ADHD” states that “there are no specific diagnostic tests for ADHD.” This means that no single method is better than another. However, when choosing a method for diagnosing ADHD, doctors always rely on international practical experience and research.

International research on MOXO:
? About the review of the MOXO continuous performance test.
? About the benefits of the MOXO-CPT test for children with chronic kidney disease.
? About the detection of false ADHD using MOXO-d-CPT.
? About the integration of MOXO-d-CPT, which improves the accuracy of ADHD diagnosis.
? About the built-in indicators of validity of ADHD-related cognitive impairments contained in MOXO-d-CPT.
? About how the MOXO test was used in a rehabilitation program to improve self-control, cognitive functions, and quality of life in epilepsy.

The doctor diagnosed RDH (without testing), but the MOHO test showed that there are no symptoms of RDH. What should I do?

See your doctor again or consult another doctor.
A diagnosis of RDH requires mandatory diagnostics. If you did not have it, it is good that you now have the results of an objective computerised MOHO diagnosis. Now the doctor has grounds to review the diagnosis and even remove it. Or test you further with questionnaires, conduct another clinical interview, and make a different diagnosis. Or refer you to psychotherapy to deal with the circumstances in your life that led to these symptoms (but not to the diagnosis).

The doctor diagnosed RHD (using questionnaires), but the MOHO test showed that there are no symptoms of RHD. How is this possible?

Contradictions between the results of RHD diagnostic methods may arise.
This is because questionnaires are a subjective form of diagnosis: they are based on self-assessment or the assessment of the child’s behaviour by parents/teachers. Or when an adult fills out a questionnaire on their own, they control the answers (influence them).

MOHO is an objective tool that is not influenced by bias. If the results do not match, it means that the external behaviour may be similar to ADHD, but neuropsychologically, the brain is functioning normally. This is an argument for further analysis and examination: perhaps the problem lies in anxiety, depression, adaptation, etc., rather than ADHD. In any case, this is better than taking medication that may have been prescribed incorrectly.

The doctor gave a different diagnosis (not ADHD), but the MOHO test showed that the symptoms of ADHD are present. What does this mean?

ADHD symptoms can manifest themselves in a wide range of conditions and diagnoses. This is especially true now, against the backdrop of war.

The MOHO test measures:
– Attention to target stimuli.
– Consistency of actions – the ability to respond quickly and accurately.
– Impulsivity and a tendency to react hastily before assessing the situation.
– Hyperactivity.

If these indicators are ‘overloaded,’ it means that the listed neuropsychological indicators are impaired. This is not yet a diagnosis, but it is an important signal. MOHO is not a substitute for a medical decision, but a powerful tool for clarification. If there are clinical symptoms + MOHO data, it makes sense to consult a specialist again. Perhaps there is a developmental disorder after all, or the disorders are related to another condition — anxiety disorder, depression, or the effects of stress.