Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. This is why some people have issues like staying focused, following directions and being organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Check with your insurance company to determine if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychiatrist, psychologist, or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. These are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with your symptoms and how you are feeling is often the first step in an initial assessment. The healthcare professional may also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they impact you. They may also ask to speak to your family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines don't permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who knew you as a child. They will also discuss whether you have experienced any other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.
In some cases an evaluator might recommend cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or tests for learning or memory issues. They might also suggest other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that might be creating your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid issues.
If your healthcare provider is confident that your symptoms are due to ADHD, they will recommend additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include blood and urine testing and a medical exam and perhaps educational or psychological tests.
The tests will be used to measure the levels of certain chemicals within your body that could be associated with ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also recommend a the spirometry test which measures the lung capacity of your. They may also recommend that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural issues. In some cases the evaluator could suggest that you or your child be evaluated for other 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 questions and tests that you can use to test your knowledge, prior to scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests can provide you with the information that you may have ADHD However, the clinical interview with your doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient about ADHD and the possible effects on their symptoms. It could also involve the clinician asking about a history of depression or substance abuse because these issues are often co-occurring 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. The doctor will also want to examine the patient's school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or family member. Personal experience can reveal information that cannot be gleaned through questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and skip this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out a full examination. This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis. This is a red flag if the clinician is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator could request that the patient complete scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator compares the scores with the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis. However, the underlying emotionssuch as guilt over not meeting expectations, or grief that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in lifeare often complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications in a variety of areas of a person's life, including relationships, career and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best method to prepare is to get suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you trust. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they're a good match for your needs. It is essential to find a doctor who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
An interview with an evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD assessment. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to understand how your symptoms affect you and if they interfere with your schoolwork, work, or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. You might be asked whether you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses or children; for children, it might be teachers, coaches or even daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't feasible to collect from a survey.
Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They may also screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizures.
Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that evaluates the way you react to target and non-target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared test that measures your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at how often you react to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes you to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
diagnose adhd in adults of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and provide an assessment. This can be a psychiatrist or psychologist, a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will want know what your concerns are and how long the issues have been occurring. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% hereditary. Genes play an important factor in determining if your child or you be affected.
The professional will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life such as at work, home, and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various settings because ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be eligible for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must exhibit six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. This could include psychiatric disorders that are not listed such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or your own sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents in the past that could have impacted your child's or your own brain development.
The doctor will also determine whether the symptoms of ADHD in you or your children are related to any health conditions or medications that you or your child are taking. Side effects of stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants as well as some sleep medications may also cause these adverse effects.
Finally, the doctor will need to determine if a comorbidity is present which means that your child or you is suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the data and come up with a diagnosis.