Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some individuals struggle to stay in control in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or your therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance provider to determine if they cover ADHD assessments 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 can determine ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a detailed interview about your life and 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 may ask you to talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process will also include questions regarding your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder existed during childhood. So, the healthcare professional will need to review your school records and speak to people who knew you when you were in your early years. They will also discuss whether you've had any other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.
In some cases the evaluator may recommend cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms.
If your doctor is convinced that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the problem. These tests will likely include urine and blood tests, a medical examination and, possibly, psychological or educational tests.
The tests are used to determine the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be related to ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you the spirometry test, which measures your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be tested for conditions that share similar symptoms to ADHD such as anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questionnaires that can act as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be helpful in identifying the possibility of ADHD however the only way to get a diagnosis is with an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and does not rush into prescribing medication.
This process can last between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient about ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. It could also involve the doctor asking about a history of depression or substance abuse because these issues are often co-occurring 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 doctor will need to look over school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they could also interview a spouse or family member. Personal experience can provide details that are not available through questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out an entire assessment. This can cause to a doctor making a wrong diagnosis. If a doctor is too rigid about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and states that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order for a diagnosis it's a red flag.
The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the ratings with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator the severity of ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or resentment for not meeting expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in life, can be complex. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of a person's life, 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 way to prepare is to ask for suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you trust. You should also research the physician and their professional qualifications to ensure they're a good fit for your needs. It is crucial to find a specialist who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the most effective treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluation expert. The evaluator may ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms affect your life and if they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For instance, you might be asked if you frequently forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also ask people who know you and your child well to complete questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses and siblings and for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insights can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a survey.
Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disabilities 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 may also screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computer-based test that tests your ability to pay attention and remember a series of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine which type of ADHD you have: impulsive or inattentive.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychologist or psychiatrist or neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are, and how long they have been affecting you for. He will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% heritable. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you be affected.
The specialist will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD affects your life at home, work and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior across various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD differ when they occur in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child will also need to have at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that interferes with everyday functioning. It must last for at minimum for six months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. hop over to this website , mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities might be considered. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, should also be considered. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleep habits and any injuries or accidents in the past that could have affected your child's or your own brain development.
He will also look into whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child is taking. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes cause side effects such as stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other medications such as sleep medications, antidepressants and a few sleep aids.
Finally, the expert will determine if a comorbidity is present this means that you or your child is suffering from a different condition that may 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 come up with a diagnosis.