Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why people struggle with things such as staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Contact your insurance provider to determine if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who can determine the presence of ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about you and your symptoms is often the first step in an initial evaluation. The healthcare professional might also inquire about how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they affect your life. They might also want to talk to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will involve questions about your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder was present during childhood. So the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and talk to those who knew you when you were a child. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances an evaluator could recommend cognitive tests, like IQ testing or tests for memory or learning problems. They might also suggest different types of medical tests to rule out physical issues that might be causing your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid disorders.
If your healthcare provider believes that your symptoms are due to ADHD They will suggest additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests will likely include urine and blood tests, a medical exam and, possibly, psychological or educational tests.
The tests will be used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals in your body that might be related to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. You could also receive an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances, your evaluator might suggest that you or a child be evaluated for any conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that can be used to test your knowledge, before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests could alert you to the possibility that you may have ADHD, but the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes educating the patient about ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. It may also include the clinician asking about a past history of depression or substance abuse, as those problems may co-exist with ADHD.
A good diagnostic interview will involve a discussion of the patient's symptoms and their impact, and the psychologist or psychiatrist will use a checklist designed to evaluate hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness. Additionally, the therapist will be required to review school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an adult or spouse, a family members could also be questioned. The personal perspective of a person can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.
Some doctors are overloaded and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting an entire assessment. This can lead a doctor to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluator then compares the ratings to the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a great relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or sadness for not living up to expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity and a lack of focus. These traits can lead to negative consequences in a variety of fields such as relationships work, health, and careers.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and difficult process. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to ask for recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the physician and their qualifications to ensure they're a good fit to your requirements. It is essential to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate assessment and the best treatment possible.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator will ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how your symptoms impact your daily life and whether they impact work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. They usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. You may be asked if you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request people who are familiar with your child or you to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. Adults may be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children might be required to complete questionnaires from coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches or parents. Personal insight can uncover details that are not possible to obtain from a survey.
A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders like bipolar disorder or depression, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They could also screen for underlying conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine your response to non-target and target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The examiner will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist or. The specialist will want to be aware of your concerns and how long they have been present for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80 percent hereditary. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.
getting diagnosed with adhd as an adult will be interested in how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life at home, work and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different settings since ADHD symptoms are different in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child require at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that hinders daily functioning. It must last for at least six months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, he must exclude other conditions. This could include other psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleep patterns and any previous injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child take. For instance, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD may cause side effects such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other drugs like sleep medications, antidepressants, and some sleep aids.
The doctor will also have to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child could have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the data and make the diagnosis.