Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It is the reason why some people have difficulty staying in control and following directions, or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Contact your insurance provider to determine if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse will need to examine adults to make a proper diagnosis. They are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with your symptoms and how you are feeling is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional might also ask how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they impact your life. They might also want to talk to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you may include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines don't allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional might want to review your school records or talk with teachers or other individuals who knew you as a kid. They will also discuss whether you've had any other mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances, the evaluator will suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms.
If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests could include blood and urine testing and a medical exam and possibly educational or psychological tests.
Tests are used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also assess your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also suggest a a spirometry test, which measures your lung capacity. They may also recommend a brain imaging scan to look for functional or structural problems. In diagnosing adhd may suggest that you or your child be examined for disorders that have similar symptoms to ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use as a screening tool prior to scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to make a diagnosis is with an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medication.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about any history of substance abuse or depression as these conditions can co-occur 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 the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be interviewed. Personal experience can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on seeing a patient once instead of completing a full evaluation. This could lead to a incorrect diagnosis. If the clinician is too rigid about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and states that a patient needs to display more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis this is a red flag.
For adults, the evaluator could request the patient to fill out ratings for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how those symptoms have affected their lives. The assessor will then compare the ratings with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator for ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to finally be given an ADHD diagnosis. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or resentment for not meeting expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in the life, may be complicated. ADHD is characterised by impulsivity and inattention. concentration. These traits can lead to serious consequences in many areas including relationships as well as careers and health.
The Tests
It can be a challenge and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It requires many forms as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure that they are a match for your needs. It is essential to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluator. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to understand how your symptoms affect you and whether they impact your schoolwork, work, or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you could be asked if you often miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also request people who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses and siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal insight can uncover information that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disorders contribute to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They could also test for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will provide you or your child an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention to detail and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at how often you respond non-targeted stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The doctor will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been present for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is about 70%-80 percent inheritable and that genes play a significant role in determining if you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms.
The professional will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD impacts your daily life, including home, work, and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different environments. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also need to have six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that hinders daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum six months.
To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he will need to rule out any other conditions. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your child's brain.
He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. For instance, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD may result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other medications such as sleep medications, antidepressants and some sleep aids.
The expert will be required to determine if a comorbidity is present which means that you or your child is suffering from a different condition that may cause symptoms of ADHD, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the information and come up with an assessment.