Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It explains why some individuals struggle to stay organized, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance company to see if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who are able to identify ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary assessment. The healthcare professional may also ask how long you've had symptoms and how they are affecting you. They might suggest that you speak with a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you may 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, your healthcare provider might be able to examine your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who were with you as a child. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In certain situations the evaluator may recommend cognitive tests like IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They might also suggest other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that may be causing your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid issues.
If the healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD, they will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests may include blood and urine testing as well as a medical examination and perhaps educational or psychological tests.
Tests are used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for structural or functional abnormalities. In some cases, the evaluator may suggest that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use to test your knowledge, before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and isn't rushed into prescribing drugs.
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 may affect his or her symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about substance abuse or depression 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. In addition, the clinician will want to review the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal insight can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this step or insist on seeing a patient one time rather than completing a complete examination. This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis. This is a red flag in the event that the physician is too rigid about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a relief to finally receive a diagnosis of ADHD. However, the emotions that accompany it -such as guilt over not meeting expectations, or the grief that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life -- can be complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have a significant impact in many areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging 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 get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the specialist and their professional credentials to ensure they are a good fit to your needs. It is crucial to find a doctor who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best treatment possible.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your work, school or social relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you often miss appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. Adults may be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children might be asked 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 disabilities are contributing factors to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder or incipient psychosis. They could also screen for underlying disorders like seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.
Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and remember a series of geometric shapes. adhd diagnosis in adults adhddiagnosis.top examines the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli and how long it takes for you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
The Follow-Up
Several kinds of mental health professionals can offer ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. This could be psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are and how long the issues have been happening. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80 percent hereditary. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.
The specialist will want to know how your or your child's ADHD affects your life at home, work and school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in different situations because ADHD symptoms differ in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child will also need to have six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interferes with the daily activities. This must last at minimum for six months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric disorders, such as mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, for example thyroid problems, can be considered. In addition, the specialist will ask about your or your child's sleep patterns and any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine 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. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants as well as some sleep medications, can also have these adverse effects.
Finally, the expert will be required to determine if a comorbidity is present which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the data and make an assessment.