Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why some individuals struggle with staying focused, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance provider 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. These are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is usually the first step in the initial evaluation. The healthcare professional will want to know how long your symptoms have been a problem and how they affect 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. The current guidelines do allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present during childhood. Therefore, the healthcare professional will need to look over your school records and talk to people who knew you when you were an infant. They'll also ask if you have had any other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.
In certain situations the evaluator may recommend cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They might also suggest different types of medical tests to rule out physical issues that could be causing your symptoms, like seizures or thyroid issues.
If the healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will suggest additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include blood and urine tests, a medical exam, and possibly psychological or educational tests.
Tests will be used to measure levels of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also examine your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to check for any functional or structural problems. In some cases your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be tested for any conditions that have similar symptoms with ADHD such as anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD questions and quizzes which can serve as a screening instrument before you schedule an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medication.
This process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it may influence their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about any history of depression or substance abuse as these problems can co-occur along 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 be required to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might also interview a spouse or family member. Personal experience can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this step or insist on only seeing a patient one time instead of completing a full assessment. This could lead to a incorrect diagnosis. If a doctor is too rigid about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show six or more symptoms for a diagnosis it's a red flag.
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 compares the ratings to the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a great relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. However, the underlying emotionssuch as guilt over failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in lifeare often complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have severe implications in many areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, work, and health.
The Tests
Finding an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and complicated process. It involves many forms and interviews, as well as tests. You can prepare by getting recommendations from trusted doctors or family members, as well as friends. You should also research the physician and their qualifications to ensure they are a good fit to your needs. It is crucial to find a professional who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
An interview with an evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD assessment. 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 impact your life and if they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. For instance, you might be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also solicit people who know you and your child well to complete questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses or children for children. It might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. how to get an adult adhd diagnosis can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire.
Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine whether intellectual or learning disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They may also screen for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder or psychosis that is in the beginning. They may also screen for medical conditions that are underlying like hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test that has been approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency with which you respond to non-targeted stimuli and how long it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
The Follow-Up
Many kinds of mental health professionals can provide ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will want to be aware of your concerns and how long the problems have been occurring. The specialist will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% hereditary. Genes play an important influence on whether your child or you will suffer from symptoms.
The professional will want to know how your or your child's ADHD affects your life such as at work, home and at school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various situations since ADHD symptoms differ in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also need to have at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that hinders everyday functioning. It must last for at minimum for six months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above, anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain.
He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health condition or medications that you or your child takes. The side effects of stimulant medication, such as those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other drugs such as sleep medications, antidepressants, and some sleep aids.
The specialist will also need to determine if there's a comorbidity. This means that you or your child might be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review the information and determine the diagnosis.