Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It is the reason why some people struggle with staying in control and following directions, or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Check with your insurance company to see if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with your symptoms and how you are feeling is usually the first step in the initial assessment. The healthcare professional might also ask how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they impact your life. They may ask you to speak to a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions regarding your childhood. The current guidelines do allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present during childhood. So the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and speak to those who knew you as an infant. They will also discuss whether you've had any other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.
In some instances, an evaluator may recommend cognitive tests, such as IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory issues. They may also recommend other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that may be creating your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If the healthcare professional is confident that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include blood and urine tests, a medical examination, and possibly educational or psychological testing.
The tests will be used to determine the levels of certain chemicals within your body that could be linked to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also suggest a the spirometry test, which measures the lung capacity of your. They may also recommend that you undergo a brain scan to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some cases your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be examined for conditions that share similar symptoms with ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD tests and questionnaires that can act as a screening tool before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be helpful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult a medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and does not rush into prescribing medications.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes educating the patient about ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about any history of depression or substance abuse 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. In addition, the clinician will be required to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member could also be questioned. The personal perspective of a person can reveal information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.
I Am Psychiatry are in a rush and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient just once, rather than conducting an entire assessment. This can cause doctors to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is too rigid about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator could request that the patient complete scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how the symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator then compares the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a relief to finally be diagnosed with ADHD. But the underlying emotions -such as guilt over not living up to expectations, or regret that the disorder was not noticed until later in life -are often complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of the life of a person, including relationships, work and health.
The Tests
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It requires lots of paperwork as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. You can prepare by getting advice from trusted doctors, family members and friends. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they are a match for your needs. It is essential to find a doctor who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms impact your daily life and if they impact work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also employ rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. These usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you to answer a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you often forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators will also ask those who know you or your child well to fill out questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. Adults could be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children might be required to complete questionnaires by teachers, coaches, daycare workers, or the nannies. Personal experience can provide information that isn't feasible to collect from a questionnaire.
A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments contribute to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders like bipolar disorder or depression as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test that has been approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention and retain a variety of geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at how often you react to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators determine the type of ADHD you have either Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Several kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD assessments and provide an assessment. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are, and how long they have been occurring for. He will also ask if there any family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is about 70%-80 percent hereditary and that genes play a significant role in determining whether you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
The professional will be interested in how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life at home, work and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various settings because ADHD symptoms vary in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child require at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects everyday functioning. It must last for at minimum six months.
To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must exclude other conditions. Other psychiatric conditions, anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities might be considered. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, may also be considered. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health issues or medications that you or your child is taking. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other medications such as sleep medications, antidepressants, and a few sleep aids.
The doctor will also have to determine if there's a comorbidity, which means you or your child might be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will look over the information and determine an assessment.