Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. This is why some people struggle with issues such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Also, check with your insurance to see if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who are able to determine the presence of ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a detailed interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will want to know the length of time your symptoms have been a problem and how they impact you. They might also want to talk to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process will also involve questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder existed in the early years of childhood. Therefore, the healthcare professional will need to look over your school records and speak to those who knew you as a child. They may also inquire if you have ever had any mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
In some cases the evaluator might suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms.
If your healthcare provider is sure that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the problem. These tests could include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and even psychological or educational tests.
Tests are conducted to determine the levels of specific chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also assess your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also suggest a the spirometry test which measures the capacity of your lungs. They may also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to determine if there are any functional or structural problems. In certain instances, your evaluator might suggest that you or your child be tested for conditions that share similar symptoms with ADHD, like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD questions and quizzes that can be used as a screening tool before you make an appointment with a physician. These tests may alert you to the possibility that you suffer from ADHD however an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it may affect his or her symptoms. It could also include the doctor seeking out a history of depression or abuse of substances since these conditions may co-exist 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 need to look over the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member might also be interviewed. Personal insight can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on visiting a patient once instead of conducting a thorough examination. This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis. If the clinician is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and insists that a patient needs to display six or more symptoms for a diagnosis this is an indication of trouble.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. diagnosing adhd in adults uk compares the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis. However, the underlying emotionssuch as guilt over not living up to expectations, or grief that the disorder was not noticed until later in life -- can be complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have serious implications throughout an individual's life, such as relationships, career and health.
The Tests
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and confusing process. It involves a lot paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best way 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 are a good fit to your requirements. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The evaluator will ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they affect your school, work or social relationships. The evaluator could also employ rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They typically 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 fill out questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses and siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They might also test for underlying conditions such as seizures and hypothyroidism.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that measures the way you react to target 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 recall a series of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli and how long it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluaters determine which subtype of ADHD you have whether you are Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the problems have been recurring for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80 percent inheritable and that genes play a significant role in whether you or your child will have symptoms.
He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at school, home and at work. He will inquire about your your child's behavior in various situations, as the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also be required to show six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that hinders everyday functioning. It must last for at minimum for six months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out other conditions. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health issues or medications you or your child is taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other medications such as sleep medications, antidepressants, and a few sleep aids.
The doctor will also have to determine whether there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child might be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will go through all the data and determine a diagnosis.