Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It explains why some individuals struggle with 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 it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse will be required to assess adults in order to determine the correct diagnosis. These are the only healthcare professionals who can determine the presence of ADHD among adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a detailed interview about your life and symptoms. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine how long it has been present and how they impact you. They might ask you to speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation will also include questions regarding your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder existed in childhood. So, the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and talk to those who knew you when you were in your early years. They'll also ask if you have had any other mental health problems like anxiety or depression.
In some cases, an evaluator may suggest cognitive tests such as IQ tests or tests for memory or learning problems. They may also recommend other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that could be causing your symptoms, like seizures or thyroid issues.
If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD they will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests could include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and possibly educational or psychological tests.
Tests are used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also examine your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which evaluates your lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In certain instances your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be evaluated for conditions that share similar symptoms to ADHD, like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD questions and tests that can be used as a screening tool, before making an appointment with your doctor. These tests can provide you with the information that you may have ADHD However, an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
The process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about addiction to drugs or depression since 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. The doctor will also want to look over the patient's school records as well as discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family member might also be interviewed. Personal experience can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on only seeing a patient one time instead of conducting a thorough examination. This can lead a doctor to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag if the clinician is too rigid about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator may ask the patient to complete ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how these symptoms have impacted their lives. The assessor will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess the severity of ADHD.
It's often a relief for some adults to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis. 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 characterized by impulsivity and lack of concentration. These traits can have negative consequences in a variety of fields, including relationships as well as careers and health.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and difficult process. It involves lots of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they are a match for your needs. It is crucial to find a professional who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child is getting an accurate evaluation and the best possible treatment.
An interview with the evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluator will ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to understand how your symptoms affect you and if they affect your work, school or your relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you could be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt others.
adhd uk diagnosis ask people who know you or your child well to complete questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses and siblings and for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a questionnaire.
A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments contribute to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis that is in the beginning. They may also screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or seizure disorders.
A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine the way you react to stimuli that are targeted and non-target. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay close attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The test examines how often you respond to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes you to respond to the target stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are and how long they have been affecting you for. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% hereditary. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.
The specialist will be interested in how your your child's ADHD affects your life such as at work, home, and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different situations, as the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different environments. In addition, to qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must have six or more documented signs of hyperactivity or inattention and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he will need to rule out any other conditions. These could include psychiatric disorders that are not listed such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your or your child's sleep patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the symptoms of ADHD in you or your children are related to any health conditions or medications that you or your child take. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and some sleep medicines may also cause these side effects.
The doctor will also have to determine if there is a comorbidity, which 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 the data and then make a diagnosis.