Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why some people struggle with staying in control and following directions, or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapy provider to refer you a specialist. Also make sure to check with your insurance to see if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to determine the correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who are able to determine the presence of ADHD among adults.
A detailed interview about your health and symptoms is usually the first step in an initial assessment. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine how long your symptoms have been present and how they impact you. They may ask you to talk to a friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder existed during childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and speak to people 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 certain instances the evaluator might suggest cognitive testing for example, IQ tests 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 seizures or thyroid issues.
If a healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD, they will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and even psychological or educational tests.
Tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also suggest a the spirometry test which evaluates your lung capacity. They may also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In some cases your evaluator could suggest that you or a child be tested for disorders that have 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 which can serve as a screening instrument before you schedule an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be helpful in identifying the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to get a diagnosis is through a medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing drugs.
This process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could influence their symptoms. It may also include the clinician asking about a history of substance abuse or depression, as those problems 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. The doctor will also want to look over the patient'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 provide details that are not available through questionnaires.
Some doctors are overloaded and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient only once, rather than conducting a full examination. This can lead to incorrect diagnosis. If the doctor is too fundamentalist about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and states that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order for a diagnosis it's a red flag.
For adults, the evaluator may request the patient to fill out scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how those symptoms have affected the patient's life. The assessor will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a great relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. The underlying emotions, such as guilt or resentment for not living up to expectations or that the disorder was not noticed until later in life, may be complicated. ADHD is characterised by impulsivity and a lack of concentration. These characteristics can have negative consequences in a variety of fields, including relationships, careers, and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It involves lots of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to ask for suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you trust. You should also research the specialist and their professional credentials to make sure they are a good fit for your needs. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
An interview with an evaluator is the first step in an ADHD assessment. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms affect your life and if they impact work, school or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. You may be asked if you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators will also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings for children. It might be teachers, coaches or even daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a survey.
The evaluators can also perform cognitive testing to see whether learning or intellectual impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They might even screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizures.
A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine your response to non-target and target stimuli. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared computer-based test that tests your ability to pay attention and recall the geometric shapes of a set of. The evaluator will examine the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluaters determine the type of ADHD you are either impulsive or inattentive.
The Follow-Up
Many kinds of mental health professionals can offer ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The doctor will ask you what the issues you are facing and how long they have been occurring for. He will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% heritable. Genes play an important influence on whether your child or you will be affected.
He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school, and work. He will inquire about your your child's behavior in different settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they are present in different situations. In addition, to qualify for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must display at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity or inattention and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for at least 6 months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out any other conditions. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, like thyroid problems, can be considered. Additionally, the doctor will inquire about your or 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 consider whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are related to any health conditions or medications that you or your child are taking. The side effects of stimulant medication, such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these side effects.
The expert will also need to determine whether there is an underlying comorbidity. This 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 psychiatrist or psychologist will review the information and determine an assessment.