Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It explains why some people have difficulty staying focused, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or your therapist to refer you to an expert. Also be sure to contact your insurance provider to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a proper diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who are able to determine the presence of ADHD in adults.
Usually, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional might be able to inquire about the length of time you have had symptoms and how they impact your life. They might also want to talk to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation will also include questions regarding your childhood. The current guidelines do allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present in the early years of childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to look over your school records and speak to people who knew you when you were an infant. They'll also ask if you've had any other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.
In some instances an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests, like IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical ailments that could be the cause of your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your healthcare professional is sure that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include blood and urine testing as well as a medical examination and even psychological or educational testing.
Tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also check 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 your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In some cases your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be tested for any conditions that have similar symptoms with ADHD, like 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 tool before you schedule an appointment with a physician. These tests can be helpful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to get a diagnosis is with an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing drugs.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible effects on their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about a history or depression or substance abuse as 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 need to look over the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are overloaded and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient just one time, rather than carrying out an extensive evaluation. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. If the clinician is too fundamentalist about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order for a diagnosis it's an indication of trouble.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator then compares the scores to the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or resentment for not living up to expectations or the fact that the disorder was not recognized until later in life, may be complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of a person's life, including relationships, career and health.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and difficult process. It requires lots of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. Check out the credentials of the specialist and ensure that they are a match for your needs. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions in order to know more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how symptoms affect you and whether they affect your schoolwork, work or social relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. They typically comprise checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. You might be asked whether you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also request those who know you or your child to complete questionnaires on what they have observed. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, or incipient psychosis. They could also test for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine your response to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The evaluator will examine the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine which subtype of ADHD you have either Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Many kinds of mental health professionals can provide ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This could be psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will want to be aware of your concerns and how long the issues have been recurring for. He will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is about 70%-80% heritable and that genes play a big role in determining whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms.
The professional will want to know how your or your child's ADHD affects your life at home, work, and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different settings because ADHD symptoms are different 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 hinders the daily activities. It must last for at minimum six months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they will need to rule out other conditions. Other psychiatric conditions, mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, such as thyroid problems, can be considered. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your child's brain.
The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are connected to any health issues or medications that you or your child take. Side effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other medications like sleep medications, antidepressants and some sleep aids.
The expert will also need to determine if there's an underlying comorbidity. diagnosing adhd in adults means you or your child may have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the information and come up with an assessment.