Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It is the reason why people have issues such as staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also be sure to contact your insurance provider to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
For adults, a proper diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who are able to diagnose ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional will also be interested in knowing the length of time your symptoms have been present and how they affect your daily life. They may also ask to talk to a family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines don't allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional might want to review your school records or talk with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They'll also ask if you have experienced any other mental health problems like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances, an evaluator may suggest cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning problems. They might also suggest other types of medical exams to rule out physical ailments that may be creating your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your healthcare provider is confident that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will suggest additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and perhaps educational or psychological testing.
The tests are designed to determine the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be related to ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be given a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. getting a adhd diagnosis may also recommend that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be tested for any conditions that have similar symptoms with ADHD, like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD questions and tests that you can use to test your knowledge, before scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests could provide you with the information that you have ADHD, but a doctor's clinical interview is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
The process can last from 2 to 3 hours and includes time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might affect their symptoms. It may also include the clinician asking about a history of depression or substance abuse since these conditions 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. The doctor will also want to review the patient's school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be interviewed. Personal insight can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient just one time, rather than carrying out a full examination. This could lead doctors to make a wrong diagnosis. If the doctor is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and states that a patient has to show at least six symptoms to receive a diagnosis, that's a red flag.
The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a relief to finally be diagnosed with ADHD. The deep-seated emotions, such as 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 characterised by impulsivity and a lack of concentration. These traits can lead to serious consequences in many areas including relationships, careers, and health.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and difficult process. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews as well as tests. You can prepare by getting recommendations from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. You must also research the doctor and their qualifications to ensure they're a good match to your needs. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure that you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best treatment possible.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions in order to know more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms affect your life and whether they interfere with school, work or relationships. The evaluator could also employ rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. You may be asked if you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also request people who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't possible to obtain from a questionnaire.
Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They might even screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will provide your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures 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 evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you react to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to the stimulus you want to respond. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you have whether you are inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Several kinds of mental health professionals can offer ADHD assessments and provide an assessment. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist or. The specialist will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been recurring for. The specialist will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genes play an important factor in determining if your child or you will experience symptoms.
He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school and at work. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different situations, as the signs of ADHD differ when they occur in different environments. To be eligible for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must have at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity or inattention and an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for at least six months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. This could include other psychiatric disorders including anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your child's brain.
The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in your children or yourself are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child take. The side effects of stimulant medication such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other medications like sleep medications, antidepressants, and some sleep aids.
The expert will also need to determine whether there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child may be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine the data and then make the diagnosis.