Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some individuals have difficulty staying in control in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also make sure to inquire with your insurance company to see if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a proper diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with you and your symptoms is usually the first step in the initial assessment. The healthcare professional could also ask how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they affect you. They may also ask to speak to a family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions regarding your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder existed during childhood. So the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and talk to those who knew you as a child. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In some cases an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests, such as IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory issues. They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical ailments that could be the cause of your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid issues.
If diagnosis of adhd is confident that your symptoms are due to ADHD they will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and even psychological or educational testing.
Tests will be used to measure levels of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also check your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be offered the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances the evaluator might suggest that you or your child be tested for other disorders that exhibit similar symptoms similar to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are plenty of ADHD questions and quizzes that can be used as a screening instrument before you schedule an appointment with your doctor. These tests may help you recognize that you may have ADHD, but an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process could take anywhere from between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. It could also include the clinician seeking out a history of depression or substance abuse since these conditions 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. The psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to look over the patient's school records as well as speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might also interview a spouse or family member. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are overloaded and skip this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient only once, instead of conducting an entire evaluation. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. This is a red flag when the doctor is not adamant about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
The evaluator can ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and evaluates 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 living up to expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in the life, can be complex. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and difficult process. It requires lots of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure that they meet your requirements. It is crucial to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child receives an accurate assessment and the best possible treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The evaluator will ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how symptoms affect you and if they affect your schoolwork, work or your relationships. The evaluator can also use ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you could be asked if you often miss appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill out questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses or siblings; for children, it might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't possible to obtain from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They can also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, or an underlying psychosis. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizures.
Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that tests the way you react to target and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test approved by the FDA that measures your ability to pay attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes you to respond to the stimulus you want to respond. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you are whether you are Inattentive or impulsive.
The Follow-Up
Several kinds of mental health professionals can offer ADHD assessments and provide an assessment. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are, and how long these problems have been affecting you for. The specialist will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is 70% to 80 percent hereditary and that genetics are a major factor in determining if you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms.
He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school and at work. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various environments because ADHD symptoms vary in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also require at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at minimum for six months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they will need to exclude other conditions. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed, anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or your own sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that could have affected your child or yourself's brain development.
He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child is taking. For instance, stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD can sometimes result in side effects like stomachaches and insomnia. Other medications, like antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these side effects.
The doctor will also have to determine whether there is a comorbidity, which means you or your child may be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the data and determine a diagnosis.