Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It is the reason why people struggle with issues like staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family physician or therapist to refer you to an expert. Also make sure to contact your insurance provider to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who are able to diagnose ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with your symptoms and how you are feeling is usually the first step in an initial assessment. The healthcare professional may also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they are affecting you. They might also want to talk to a family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They may also inquire if you have had any other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.
In certain situations the evaluator might suggest cognitive testing for example, IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms.
If adults diagnosed with adhd believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD they will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests could include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and possibly educational or psychological testing.
The tests will be used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals within your body that could be linked to ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also check your heart rate and blood pressure. You could also receive the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They may also recommend a brain imaging scan to check for any structural or functional abnormalities. In some cases the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD questions and tests that you can use as a screening tool, before making an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to get a diagnosis is through an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and isn't rushed into prescribing medications.
The process can last from between 2 and 3 hours. It includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might influence their symptoms. It may also include the doctor seeking out a history of depression or substance abuse since 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 school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member could also be questioned. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on visiting a patient once rather than completing a complete examination. This could lead to a incorrect diagnosis. This is a red-flag if the clinician is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator then compares the scores to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
It's a great feeling for some adults to get an ADHD diagnosis. However, the underlying emotionssuch as guilt over failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder was not discovered until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have serious implications throughout a person's life, including relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
It can be a challenge and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to ask for recommendations from family, friends and doctors you are confident with. You must also research the doctor and their credentials to ensure they are a good fit for your needs. It is important to find a specialist 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 in an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluator. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your schoolwork, work or social relationships. The evaluator could also employ ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. For example, you might be asked if you often forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also solicit people who know you and your child well to fill out questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses or siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal details that are not possible to obtain from a survey.
The evaluators can also perform cognitive tests to determine whether intellectual or learning disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They might also test for underlying conditions such as seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.
Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to stimuli that are targeted and non-target. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared test that measures your ability to pay attention and remember the geometric shapes of a set of. The examiner will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli and how long it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine the type of ADHD you are either impulsive or inattentive.
The Follow-Up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This can be a psychologist or psychiatrist as well as psychologist or neurologist. The doctor will want to be aware of your concerns and how long the problems have been occurring. The doctor will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80 percent hereditary and that genes play a big role in whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms.
He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, school, and work. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various environments because ADHD symptoms differ in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child need to have at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum for six months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they will need to rule out any other conditions. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, for example thyroid issues, should be a possibility. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleep patterns and any accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in your children or yourself are caused by any health condition or medications you or your child are taking. Side effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other medications, including sleep medications, antidepressants, and certain sleep aids.
Finally, the doctor will be required to determine if a comorbidity present this means that your child or you is suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the information and make the diagnosis.