Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. This is why some people have issues like staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized. Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Check with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD assessments for adults. The Diagnosis Process A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will be required to evaluate adults in order to make a proper diagnosis. They are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults. An in-depth interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is usually the first step in the initial assessment. The healthcare professional may also inquire about how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they affect your life. They might also want to speak to your family member or close friend about your symptoms. The evaluation process will also include questions about your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder was present during childhood. So the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and talk to those who knew you when you were in your early years. They will also ask whether you've had any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. In certain instances an evaluator could recommend cognitive tests, like IQ tests or tests for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical conditions that could be creating your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems. If a healthcare professional is confident that your symptoms are caused by ADHD They will suggest additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests could include blood and urine tests, medical examinations and, possibly, psychological or educational testing. Tests are used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that could be linked 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 a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural issues. In some instances your evaluator may suggest that you or your child be tested for conditions that share similar symptoms with ADHD such as anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are plenty of ADHD tests and questionnaires that can act as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests may alert you to the possibility that you have ADHD However, the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis. The process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient about ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. It could also involve the clinician asking about a history of depression or abuse of substances because these issues may co-exist 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. Additionally, diagnosing adult adhd will need to look over school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or family member. Personal experience can reveal information that cannot be gleaned through questionnaires. Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on visiting a patient once rather than completing a complete evaluation. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. This is a red-flag if the clinician is too rigid in their criteria to diagnose ADHD. The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The assessor will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess for ADHD. It can be a relief for some adults to get an ADHD diagnosis. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or resentment for not meeting expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in life, can be complex. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity and lack of focus. These traits can lead to serious consequences in many areas such as relationships as well as careers and health. The Tests It can be challenging and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews, and tests. The best method to prepare is to ask for recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure they're a good match for your requirements. It is essential to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure that you or your child gets an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment possible. An interview with the evaluator is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or yourself to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your schoolwork, work or social relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. You may be asked if you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to complete questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses and siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't possible to gather through a questionnaire. Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disorders are contributing to your symptoms. They can also test for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or incipient psychosis. They may also screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizures. A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to target and nontarget stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that measures your ability to pay attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you react to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluaters determine the type of ADHD you are either impulsive or inattentive. Follow-up Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This can be a psychologist or psychiatrist as well as a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are and how long they have been happening. The doctor will also inquire whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genes play an important factor in determining if your child or you will experience symptoms. The professional will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different settings, because the symptoms of ADHD differ when they are present in different environments. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child be required to show at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum six months. To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they will need to exclude other conditions. Other psychiatric conditions, anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, like thyroid issues, should also be considered. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents in the past that could have affected your child or your brain's development. The doctor will also determine whether the signs of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child take. Side effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other drugs such as antidepressants, sleep medications, and a few sleep aids. Finally, the expert will need to determine if a comorbidity present which means that your child or you is suffering from a different condition that may cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the information and come up with the diagnosis.
diagnosing adult adhd
