Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It is the reason why people struggle with issues such as staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also, inquire with your insurance company to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who are able to determine the presence of ADHD among adults.
A detailed interview about you and your symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional may also inquire about how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they are affecting your life. They might suggest that you speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will include questions about your childhood. Because current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other people 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 some instances an evaluator could recommend cognitive tests, 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 physical conditions which could cause your symptoms.
If a healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are caused by ADHD They will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and perhaps educational or psychological testing.
The tests will be used to determine the levels of certain chemicals within your body that could be linked to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you a spirometry test, which will measure the capacity of your lungs. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that may have similar symptoms to ADHD like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD questions and quizzes which can serve as a screening tool before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to get a diagnosis is with an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medication.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible effects on their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about any history of substance abuse or depression 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. The doctor will also want to review the patient's school records as well as talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might 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 overloaded and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting a full examination. This could lead doctors to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag in the event that the physician is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator could request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how those symptoms have affected his or her life. The evaluator will then compare the scores to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
For some adults, it could be a relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or grief for not meeting expectations or that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity and lack of attention. These traits can have negative consequences in a variety of fields including relationships, careers, and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork as well as interviews and tests. You can prepare by obtaining recommendations from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. You should also research the specialist and their credentials to make sure they're a good match for your needs. It is essential to find a professional who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
An interview with an evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD assessment. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to understand how your symptoms affect you and if they impact your school, work, or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. You might be asked whether you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request people who know your child or you to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. For adults, this could be spouses or children and for children, it might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. adhd in adults diagnosis could also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They could also test for medical conditions that are underlying like hypothyroidism or seizures.
A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine how you respond both 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 measures your ability to pay close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The test examines how often you respond non-targeted stimuli and how long it takes for you to respond to target stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify which type of ADHD you have either Inattentive or impulsive.
The Follow-Up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will ask you what the issues you are facing and how long these problems have been affecting you for. He will also inquire about 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 suffer from symptoms.
The professional will want to know how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life such as at work, home, and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different situations because ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also need to have at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interferes with the daily activities. It must last for at minimum six months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. These may include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above, mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are connected to any health issues or medications that you or your child are taking. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and certain sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects.
The specialist will also need to determine if there is a comorbidity, which means you or your child might have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine all of the data and determine a diagnosis.