Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. This is why some people have issues such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.
Ask your family physician or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a proper diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a detailed interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional might also inquire about how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they impact you. They may also ask to speak to your family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will involve questions about 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 want to review your school records and talk to people who knew you when you were in your early years. They may also inquire if you have ever had any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
In certain situations the evaluator may suggest cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that might be creating your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid issues.
If a healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD, they will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests, medical examinations and, possibly, psychological or educational testing.
Tests will be used to measure levels of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also assess your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be given a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to look for structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances, the evaluator may recommend 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 quizzes that you can use as a screening tool, prior to scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be helpful in identifying the possibility of ADHD however the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medication.
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The process can last from 2 to 3 hours and includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. It could also include the clinician asking about a past history of substance abuse or depression because 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 want to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient just one time, rather than carrying out an extensive examination. This could lead to a doctor making a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is too rigid about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator could request the patient to fill out scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how those symptoms have impacted their lives. The evaluator compares the scores to the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a great relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or grief for not achieving expectations or that the disorder was not recognized until later in life, may be complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that are typical of ADHD can have serious implications throughout a person's life, including relationships, career and health.
The Tests
Finding an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and complicated process. It requires many forms, interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to seek suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you are confident with. Check out https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment of the specialist and make sure they meet your requirements. It is essential to find a doctor who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they affect your school, work or your relationships. The evaluator could also employ ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For instance, you might be asked if it is common to miss appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators will also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or children for children. It could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can provide information that isn't possible to obtain from a questionnaire.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They can also test for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder or psychosis that is in the beginning. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying like hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that tests the way you react to target and non-target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This will help the evaluators determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychologist or psychiatrist, a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will ask you what the issues you are facing and how long the issues have been affecting you for. He will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is about 70%-80% heritable and that genetics play a big role in determining whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms.
The professional will be interested in how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life, including home, work, and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various settings since ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also be required to show six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum six months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the specialist will need to rule other conditions out. This could include other psychiatric disorders including 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 and any previous injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain.
The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in you or your children are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child are taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other medications like sleep medications, antidepressants, and certain sleep aids.
The expert will determine if a comorbidity is present, which means that your child or you has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the data and determine an assessment.
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