Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It is the reason why people struggle with things such as staying focused, following directions and being organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to an expert. Check with your insurance company to determine if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
Often, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional could also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they are affecting your life. They might also suggest that you speak to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines don't permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional 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, such as anxiety or depression.
In some cases an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend other types of medical exams to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms, like seizures or thyroid disorders.
If your healthcare professional is certain that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the problem. These tests may include urine and blood tests, medical examinations and, possibly, psychological or educational tests.
The tests are used to determine the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be linked to ADHD, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also check your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which evaluates the capacity of your lungs. They might also suggest that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for structural or functional abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator could suggest that you or your child be tested for other disorders that exhibit similar symptoms similar to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use as a screening tool, prior to scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests can provide you with the information that you may have ADHD, but the clinical interview with your doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can last between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. It could also involve the doctor seeking out a history of depression or abuse of substances because these issues 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. Additionally, the therapist will be required to review school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they could also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal insight can uncover details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting a full assessment. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. If the clinician is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show six or more symptoms to receive a diagnosis, that's an indication of trouble.
For adults, the evaluator could ask the patient to complete scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and assess the severity of ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for not meeting expectations, or regret that the disorder was not recognized until later in life -are often complicated. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity and a lack of concentration. These traits can lead to grave consequences in a variety of areas including relationships as well as careers and health.
The Tests
Finding an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best method to prepare is to ask for suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you are confident with. Examine the credentials of the doctor and make sure that they meet your needs. It is crucial to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the assessor. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you to learn more about your symptoms. how to get an adhd diagnosis uk would like to know how the symptoms impact your life and whether they interfere with work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you could be asked if you often forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request people who know your child or you to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. Adults could be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children might be asked to fill out questionnaires from coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches, or the nannies. Personal insight can reveal information that is not feasible to collect from a questionnaire.
Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They could also screen for underlying disorders like hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to react to the stimulus you want to respond. This can help evaluaters determine which subtype of ADHD you are either Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD evaluations and make an assessment. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will want to know what your concerns are and how long the problems have been present for. The doctor will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is about 70%-80 percent hereditary and that genetics play a big role in determining if you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
The expert will want to know how your your child's ADHD impacts your daily life such as at work, home and at school. He will inquire about your your child's behavior across various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD differ when they are present in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child need to have at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum six months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric issues, anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, such as thyroid problems, can be considered. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your child's sleeping 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 caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. Side effects of stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants as well as some sleep medications may also cause these side effects.
The specialist will also need to determine if there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child may have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will look over the information and determine a diagnosis.