Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why some people have difficulty staying organized in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance provider to determine if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with you and your symptoms is usually the first step in the initial evaluation. The healthcare professional will want to know how long your symptoms have been present and how they affect you. They might also want to talk to a family member or close friend 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 existed in the early years of childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will need to review your school records and speak to those who knew you as an infant. They will also ask if you have ever had any mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
In some cases an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests such as IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory issues. They might also suggest different types of medical tests to rule out physical issues that may be creating your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your healthcare provider is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD They may suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the problem. These tests could include urine and blood tests and a medical exam 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 check your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They might also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to check for any functional or structural problems. In some instances the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD, such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are plenty of ADHD quizzes and questionnaires that can be used as a screening tool prior to you schedule an appointment with a physician. These tests can alert you to the possibility that you suffer from ADHD, but an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process could take anywhere from about 2 to 3 hours. It includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it may affect his or her symptoms. It may also include the doctor asking about a history of depression or abuse of substances because these issues are often co-occurring 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 clinician will also want to review the patient's school records as well as speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they could also interview a spouse or family member. Personal insight can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on visiting a patient once instead of conducting a thorough assessment. This can lead to incorrect diagnosis. This is a red flag if the clinician is too rigid about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator may request the patient to fill out scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how these symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The assessor will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator the severity of ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't discovered until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications throughout the life of a person, including relationships, work and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It requires many forms, interviews and tests. It is possible to prepare by obtaining recommendations from reliable doctors, family members and friends. You must also research the doctor and their professional qualifications to ensure they're a good match to your needs. It is crucial to find a specialist who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child gets an accurate assessment and the best possible treatment.
An interview with the evaluator is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms affect you and if they affect your school, work or your relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. For my response , you could be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also ask people who know you and your child well to fill in questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. Adults may be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children might be required to complete questionnaires from coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches, or parents. Personal experience can reveal details that are not possible to obtain from a survey.
The evaluators can also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure the way you react to stimuli that are targeted and non-target. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test cleared by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes you to respond to the stimulus you want to respond. This can help evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD evaluations and make an assessment. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will want be aware of your concerns and how long the problems have been present for. He will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is about 70%-80 percent inheritable and that genetics are a major factor in whether you or your child will have symptoms.
The specialist will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work and at school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various environments since ADHD symptoms differ in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child need to have at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that hinders daily functioning. This must last at minimum six months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the specialist will have to rule other conditions out. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above, anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or your own sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that may have impacted your child's or your own brain development.
The doctor will also determine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are connected to any health issues or medications that you or your child take. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause side effects, such as stomachaches and insomnia. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these adverse effects.
Finally, the doctor will need to determine if a comorbidity present this means that your child or you is suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine all of the information and make an assessment.