Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It explains why people struggle with issues such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.
Ask your family physician or therapist to refer you to an expert. Also be sure to check with your insurance to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
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 are able to identify ADHD in adults.
Usually, an initial assessment will start with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional will also be looking to determine how long your symptoms have been a problem and how they impact your daily life. They might ask you to speak with a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present in childhood. Therefore, the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and speak to those who knew you when you were a child. They will also discuss whether you have experienced any other mental health problems like anxiety or depression.
In certain instances, an evaluator may suggest cognitive tests, like IQ testing or tests for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend different types of medical tests to rule out physical issues that could be causing your symptoms, like thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are caused by ADHD They may suggest additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include urine and blood tests, medical examinations, and possibly psychological or educational tests.
Tests are conducted to determine the levels of specific chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be offered an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They may also recommend an imaging scan of your brain to look for structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be examined 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 tests and questionnaires which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to consult an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and does not rush into prescribing medication.
This process can last between 2 and 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about a history or 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. The psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to look over the student's school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult or spouse, a family member might also be interviewed. Personal experience can reveal details that are not available through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on only seeing a patient one time instead of completing a full assessment. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is too rigid about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
The evaluator may 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 evaluator will then compare the ratings to the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. But the underlying emotions -like guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't discovered until later in lifeare often complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have a significant impact in many areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, career and health.
The Tests
It can be difficult and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It involves lots of paperwork, interviews and tests. The best method to prepare is to seek recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. You should also research the physician and their professional credentials to ensure they're a good match to your needs. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or yourself to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to understand how your symptoms affect you and if they affect your work, school, or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They typically consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you a series of questions. You might be asked whether you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.
adhd diagnostic will also ask those who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. Adults may be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children may be required to complete questionnaires by teachers, coaches daycare workers, coaches or nannies. Personal insights can provide information that isn't feasible to collect through a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental impairments contribute to your symptoms. They can also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression, or incipient psychosis. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to stimuli that are targeted and non-target. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test cleared by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to the target stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you are either Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This can include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist or. The doctor will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been recurring for. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is 70% to 80% heritable and that genetics play a big role in determining if you or your child will have symptoms.
He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school, and work. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various environments because ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. In addition, to be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must have six or more documented signs of hyperactivity, inattention or the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for at least six months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out other conditions. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, should also be considered. The specialist will also ask about your child's or your own sleeping habits, as well as any accidents or injuries in the past that could have affected your child's or yourself's brain development.
He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are connected to any other health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause side effects, such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants as well as some sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects.
The doctor will also have to determine whether there is a comorbidity, which means you or your child might have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the information and come up with a diagnosis.