Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some individuals struggle to stay organized, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Contact your insurance provider to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adult patients.
Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is usually the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional will also want to know the length of time your symptoms have been a problem and how they impact you. They may ask you to speak to a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions about your childhood. Because current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder's presence in childhood, your healthcare provider may wish to look at your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who were with you as a child. They will also ask if you have ever had any mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In certain situations, the evaluator will recommend cognitive testing for example, IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could cause your symptoms.
If your healthcare professional is certain that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the problem. These tests may include blood and urine tests, a medical exam, and possibly psychological or educational testing.
Tests will be used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you the spirometry test which evaluates the capacity of your lungs. They may also recommend a brain imaging scan to check for any structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be evaluated for disorders that have similar symptoms with ADHD, like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are numerous ADHD quizzes and questions that can be used to test your knowledge, before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests may provide you with the information that you have ADHD however a doctor's clinical interview is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
The process can last from about 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect his or her symptoms. The clinician may also ask about any history of 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 be required to review the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. The personal perspective of a person can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and do not complete this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient only once, rather than conducting an entire examination. This can lead to confusion about the diagnosis. If the doctor is too firmly rooted in the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and insists that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis, that's a red flag.
For adults, the evaluator might ask the patient to complete ratings for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how those symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator compares the ratings to the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to be given an ADHD diagnosis. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or sadness for not meeting expectations or the fact that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life, may be complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications throughout the life of a person, including relationships, career and health.
diagnosing adult adhd can be difficult and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It involves many forms as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. Examine the credentials of the doctor and make sure they're a good match for your requirements. It is important to find a doctor who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child is getting an accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator may ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your schoolwork, work, or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For instance, you could be asked if you frequently forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also ask people who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. Adults could be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children might be asked to complete questionnaires by teachers, coaches, daycare workers, or parents. Personal experience can reveal details that are not possible to obtain from a questionnaire.
Some evaluators will also perform cognitive testing to see if learning or intellectual disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They might also test for underlying disorders like seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure the way you react to target and nontarget stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The evaluator will examine the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli and how long it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you have whether you are inattentive or impulsive.
The Follow-Up
Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. This could be a psychiatrist or psychologist or a psychotherapist or neurologist. The doctor will want to know what your concerns are and how long the issues 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% hereditary. Genetics play a significant influence on whether your child or you will experience symptoms.
The expert will be interested in how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life such as at work, home, and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different settings because ADHD symptoms differ in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child require at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that hinders daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum six months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the specialist must rule out other conditions out. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed including anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns and any previous injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are caused by any health condition or medications you or your child are taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other drugs, including sleep medications, antidepressants and some sleep aids.
Finally, the doctor will be required to determine if a comorbidity present, which means that your child or you has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD for example, bipolar disorder, depression anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will look over the information and then make the diagnosis.