Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It is the reason why some people have difficulty staying organized and following directions, or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine the presence of ADHD among adults.
Usually, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will also want to know how long it has been present and how they impact you. They might also want to talk to a family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation will also involve questions about your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder was present in childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to review your school records and speak to people who knew you as in your early years. They may also inquire whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
In certain instances an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests, like IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory issues. They might also suggest other medical exams to rule out physical conditions that may be causing your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issues.
If the healthcare professional is confident that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and even psychological or educational testing.
Tests will be used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You could also receive a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest an imaging scan of your brain to check for any structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be tested for disorders that have similar symptoms with ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD tests and quizzes that can be used to test your knowledge, before making an appointment with your doctor. These tests could provide you with the information that you suffer from ADHD however the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
The process can last from 2 to 3 hours and includes time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it may influence their symptoms. It could also include the doctor asking about a history of depression or substance abuse 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 need to look over school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an adult or spouse, a family member might also be interviewed. Personal experience can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, rather than conducting an entire assessment. This can lead to incorrect diagnosis. If a doctor is too rigid about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and insists that a patient must display at least six symptoms to receive a diagnosis, that's a red flag.
For adults, the evaluator might request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how the symptoms have affected his or her life. The evaluator will then compare the ratings with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator for ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to be given an ADHD diagnosis. However, the underlying emotionssuch as guilt over not living up to expectations, or regret that the disorder was not recognized until later in life -are often complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have severe implications in a variety of areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
It can be a challenge and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork as well as interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from family, friends and doctors you are confident with. Check out the credentials of the specialist and ensure that they are a match for your requirements. It is crucial to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure that you or your child is getting an accurate evaluation and the best possible treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the assessor. The evaluator may ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms impact your life and if they interfere with school, work or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. You might be asked whether you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also solicit people who know you or your child well to fill out questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or children for children. It could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal information that is not feasible to collect from a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also perform cognitive testing to see whether intellectual or learning disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders like bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They might also test for underlying disorders like seizures and hypothyroidism.
Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you react to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators determine which subtype of ADHD you are: inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and make an assessment. This can include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. how to get an adhd diagnosis uk will ask you what the issues you are facing and how long they have been occurring for. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% heritable. Genes play an important factor in determining if your child or you will suffer from symptoms.
The professional will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life, including home, work and at school. He will inquire about your your child's behavior in various situations, as the signs of ADHD differ when they occur in different settings. To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD you or your child must exhibit six or more established symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning for at least 6 months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out other conditions. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, may be a possibility. The specialist will also ask about your child's or your own habits of sleep and any injuries or accidents in the past that might have affected your child's or yourself's brain development.
He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health issues or medications you or your child is taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications, such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these adverse effects.
The specialist will also need to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child might have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the information and determine an assessment.