getting diagnosed for adhd an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It explains why some individuals have difficulty staying focused, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Also make sure to contact your insurance provider to see if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse is required to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare providers who can identify ADHD in adults.
An in-depth interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in an initial assessment. The healthcare professional will also be interested in knowing the length of time your symptoms have been a problem and how they affect your daily life. They might suggest that you speak to a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions regarding your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder existed in childhood. So the healthcare professional will want to review your school records and speak to those who knew you when you were an infant. They may also inquire whether you’ve had any mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.
In some instances an evaluator might recommend cognitive tests, like IQ tests or tests for learning or memory issues. They might also suggest different types of medical tests to rule out physical conditions that may be causing your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your healthcare provider is sure that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the problem. These tests may include urine and blood tests, medical examinations, and possibly educational or psychological testing.
Tests are conducted to measure levels of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In some instances the evaluator could suggest that you or your child be examined for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires which can serve as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with a physician. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to get a diagnosis is through a medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn’t rush into prescribing medication.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. It may also include the clinician asking about a past 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. In addition, the clinician will want to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member might also be interviewed. Personal insight can reveal information that can’t be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient only once, rather than conducting a full assessment. This can lead to misdiagnosis. If the clinician is too firmly rooted in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show six or more symptoms to receive a diagnosis this is a red flag.
For adults, the evaluator could request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have impacted his or her life. The assessor will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator the severity of ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of Adhd diagnosis differential. However, the underlying emotionslike guilt for not meeting expectations, or grief that the disorder was not recognized until later in lifeare often complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and lack of focus. These characteristics can have negative consequences in a variety of fields, including relationships as well as careers and health.
The Tests
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and complicated process. It involves a lot paperwork, interviews, and tests. It is possible to prepare by obtaining recommendations from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. Check out the credentials of the specialist and ensure that they meet your needs. It is essential to find a doctor who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure you or your child receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
An interview with the evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD assessment. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you 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 could also use rating scales that measure 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 you frequently miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request those who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. Adults might be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children may be asked to fill out questionnaires by teachers, coaches daycare workers, coaches, or nannies. Personal insight can provide information that isn’t possible to gather from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disabilities are contributing factors to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder or incipient psychosis. They could also test for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizures.
Some evaluators may give 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 evaluates your capacity to pay attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at how often you respond non-targeted stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you are: Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will want to be aware of your concerns and how long the problems 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 percent heritable. Genes play a major influence on whether your child or you will suffer from symptoms.
The specialist will want to know how your or your child’s ADHD affects your life, including home, work and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different situations since ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also be required to show at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interferes with everyday functioning. It must last for at least six months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. These may include other psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. The doctor will also inquire about your child or yourself’s sleep habits and any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that might have affected your child’s or your brain’s development.
The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child are taking. The side effects of stimulant medication such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants as well as some sleep medications may also cause these adverse effects.
The expert 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 psychologist or psychiatrist will review the information and determine the diagnosis.