Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. This is why some 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 an expert. Also, check with your insurance to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who are able to determine the presence of ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a thorough interview about your life and symptoms. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine the length of time your symptoms have been a problem and how they affect you. They may ask you to speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines don't permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional might be able to examine your school records or talk to teachers or other people who knew you as a kid. They'll also ask if you've had any other mental health problems like depression or anxiety.
In some instances an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests such as IQ testing or tests for learning or memory issues. They may also recommend other types of medical exams to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If a healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD they will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests could include urine and blood tests, medical examinations as well as educational or psychological testing.
Tests are used to measure levels of certain chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, for example dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also suggest a the spirometry test which measures the capacity of your lungs. They may also recommend an imaging scan of your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In some cases your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be tested for any conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD such as 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, prior to scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests can be useful in identifying the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to make a diagnosis is with an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing drugs.
This process could take anywhere from about 2 to 3 hours. how to get an adult adhd diagnosis includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could influence their symptoms. It may also include the clinician 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. The psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to review the student's school records and discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family member might also be questioned. Personal insight can reveal information that cannot be gleaned through questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient just once, rather than conducting an entire examination. This can cause to a doctor making an incorrect diagnosis. This is a red-flag if the clinician is too rigid in their criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluation will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess the patient for ADHD.
It's a great feeling for some adults to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis. The underlying emotions, such as guilt or sadness for not living up to expectations or the fact that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have serious implications throughout the life of a person, including relationships, work, and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews, and tests. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from family, friends and doctors you are confident with. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure that they are a match for your needs. It is crucial to find a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to understand how your symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your schoolwork, work or your relationships. The evaluator can also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone around you to answer a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators will also request people who know you and your child well to complete questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or children for children. It might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can provide information that isn't feasible to collect from a survey.
Some evaluators will also perform cognitive testing to see if learning or intellectual disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder or psychosis that is in the beginning. They may also screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or seizures.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test 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 the length of time it takes to respond to the stimulus you want to respond. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you are either impulsive or inattentive.
The Follow-Up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This could be psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will want to be aware of your concerns and how long the issues have been recurring for. The specialist will also ask if there any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80% heritable and that genetics play a significant role in determining if you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school and at work. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different situations since ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be eligible for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must display six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for at least six months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the specialist must rule out other conditions out. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities might be considered. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, may be a possibility. The doctor will also inquire about your child or yourself's habits of sleep and any accidents or injuries in the past that might have impacted your child's or yourself's brain development.
He will also look into whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child takes. The side effects of stimulant medication like those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other drugs like antidepressants, sleep medications, and some sleep aids.
The specialist will also need to determine whether there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child might have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the information and make an assessment.