Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. It is the reason why people have issues like staying focused, following directions and being organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Check with your insurance company to see if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who are able to identify ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in an initial assessment. The healthcare professional may also inquire about how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they affect you. They may ask you to speak to a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, your healthcare provider might be able to examine your school records or talk with teachers or other people who knew you as a kid. They will also ask if you have ever had any mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.
In some cases an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests like IQ testing or tests for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend different types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that might be the cause of your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid disorders.
If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are due to ADHD They will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests will likely include blood and urine tests, a medical exam and, possibly, educational or psychological testing.
Tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be given the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator might suggest that you or your child be examined for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD tests and questionnaires that can be used as a screening instrument before you schedule an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to receive a diagnosis is through an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medication.
This process could take anywhere from between 2 and 3 hours. It includes time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect 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. In addition, the clinician will need to look over school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal information that cannot be gleaned through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on visiting a patient once instead of conducting a thorough examination. This could lead to a incorrect diagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is too rigid in their criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator may ask the patient to complete scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how those symptoms have impacted their lives. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or grief for not living up to expectations or the fact that the disorder was not recognized until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. ADHD is characterised by impulsivity and a lack of focus. These traits can have grave consequences in a variety of areas, including relationships, careers, and health.
The Tests
It can be a challenge and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires many forms as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. It is possible to prepare by obtaining advice from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. You should also research the physician and their qualifications to ensure they are a good fit to your requirements. It is crucial to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure that you or your child receives an accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment.
An interview with the evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD assessment. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to understand how your symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your work, school or your relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. You might be asked whether you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also ask people who know your child or you to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. For get diagnosed with adhd , this could be spouses and siblings; for children, it might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't possible to obtain through a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental impairments contribute to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They may also screen for underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or seizure disorders.
Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computer-based test that tests your ability to pay attention and recall a series of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at 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 to determine if you suffer from an impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are able to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist as well as a psychotherapist or neurologist. The doctor will want to be aware of your concerns and how long the problems have been present for. The specialist will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% heritable. Genes play an important role in whether your child or you will be affected.
The professional will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD affects your daily life such as at work, home, and school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various environments since ADHD symptoms differ in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also require at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects the daily activities. It must last for at least six months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, like thyroid issues, may be a possibility. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that might have affected your child's or your brain's development.
The doctor will also consider whether the signs of ADHD in your children or yourself are caused by any health condition or medications you or your child are taking. The side effects of stimulant medication, such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and certain sleep medications may also cause these adverse effects.
The specialist will also need to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child might have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the data and come up with a diagnosis.