Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It explains why people struggle with things such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.
Ask your family doctor or your therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance company to see if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will be required to evaluate adults in order to determine the correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare providers who can identify ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will start with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional could also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they are affecting you. They may ask you to talk to a friend or family member about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions regarding your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder was present in childhood. Therefore, the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and talk to people who knew you as in your early years. They'll also ask if you have had any other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.
In some cases the evaluator might recommend cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also suggest that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical ailments that could cause your symptoms.
If I Am Psychiatry UK is convinced that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and possibly educational or psychological testing.
Tests are conducted to measure levels of certain chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which will measure your lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural issues. In some cases your evaluator could suggest that you or a child be tested for any conditions that have similar symptoms with ADHD, like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use as a screening tool before making an appointment with your doctor. These tests can alert you to the possibility that you have ADHD, but an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes educating the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The clinician may also ask 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 need to look over school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or family member. Personal insight can uncover information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and don't bother with this step or they may insist on seeing a patient just one time, rather than carrying out an entire examination. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. If a doctor is too firmly rooted in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and insists that a patient needs to display at least six symptoms to receive 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 scores with the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to finally get an ADHD diagnosis. However, the underlying emotions- such as guilt for not living up to expectations, or the grief that the disorder was not discovered until later in life -it can be a challenge. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and a lack of concentration. These traits can have serious consequences in many areas such as relationships, careers, and health.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and confusing process. It requires lots of paperwork, interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to seek recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. Research the specialist's credentials and ensure that they're a good match for your needs. It is important to find a specialist who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure you or your child receives an accurate assessment and the best possible treatment.
An interview with the evaluator is the first step in an ADHD assessment. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or you to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms affect you and if they affect your work, school or social relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They typically comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. You may be asked if you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators will also ask people who know you and your child well to fill in questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings and for children, it might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or an underlying psychosis. They might also test for underlying conditions like seizures and hypothyroidism.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to gauge how you respond both to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The test examines how often you respond non-target stimuli and how long it takes for you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
Follow-up
A variety of mental health professionals can provide ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been affecting you for. He will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% hereditary. Genes play a major role in whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.
The specialist will want to know how your your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work and at school. He will ask about your or your child's behavior across various environments, since the signs of ADHD are different when they occur in different situations. 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. This must last at minimum six months.
To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out any other conditions. Other psychiatric conditions, mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities might be considered. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, may be a possibility. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or your own sleep habits and any injuries or accidents in the past that could have impacted your child's or yourself's brain development.
He will also look into whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health issues or medications you or your child takes. For instance, stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD can sometimes result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, including antidepressants and some sleep medicines, can also have these side 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 can include depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine all of the information and come up with an assessment.