Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why some people struggle with staying organized in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Check with your insurance company to determine if it covers ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional may also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they are affecting you. They may also ask to talk to your family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines don't allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk to teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They may also inquire whether you've had any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
In certain instances an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests such as IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also suggest that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms.
If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to 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 as well as psychological or educational tests.
The tests are 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 test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be offered the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be evaluated for disorders that have similar symptoms to 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, prior to scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests can be useful in identifying the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to consult an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and does not rush into prescribing drugs.
The process can last from 2 to 3 hours and includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might influence their symptoms. It may also include the doctor asking about a history of substance abuse or depression, as those problems 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. Additionally, the doctor will need to look over the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on only seeing a patient once instead of completing a full assessment. This can cause a doctor to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is too rigid in their criteria to diagnose ADHD.
The evaluator can ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator then compares the scores with the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
It's a great feeling for some adults to finally get an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for not meeting expectations, or the grief that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life -- can be complicated. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity and lack of attention. These characteristics can have grave consequences in a variety of areas including relationships as well as careers and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. Iam Psychiatry requires many forms and interviews, as well as tests. It is possible to prepare by obtaining advice from trusted doctors, family members and friends. You should also research the physician and their professional credentials to make sure they're a good fit for your needs. It is crucial to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best possible treatment.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluator. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or yourself to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to understand how your symptoms affect you and if they affect your work, school or your relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you frequently miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also solicit people who know you and your child well to fill in questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or children and for children, it might be teachers, coaches and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal information that is not possible to obtain through a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments contribute to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders like bipolar disorder or depression, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They may even screen for underlying conditions such as seizures and hypothyroidism.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test that has been approved by the FDA that measures your ability to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, as well as how long it takes you to react to the stimuli you are targeting. This will help the evaluators determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
The Follow-Up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychologist or psychiatrist, psychologist or neurologist. The specialist will want know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been recurring for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% heritable. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you will be affected.
The professional will be interested in how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life such as at work, home and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different settings because ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. In addition, to qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must have six or more documented signs of hyperactivity or inattention and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for at least 6 months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they will need to exclude other conditions. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above such as anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire 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.
He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health conditions or medications you or your child is taking. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause side effects such as stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other medications like antidepressants, sleep medications, and some sleep aids.
The expert will also need to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child might have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review the information and make an assessment.