How To Identify The Getting An ADHD Diagnosis Right For You
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It explains why some individuals struggle with staying focused and following directions, or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Contact your insurance provider to see if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who are able to diagnose ADHD among adults.
An in-depth interview about your health and symptoms is often 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 are affecting you. They may also ask to speak to a family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional might be able to examine your school records or talk with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They will also discuss whether you've had any other mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In some cases, the evaluator will recommend cognitive testing like IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may be causing your symptoms.
If your doctor is sure that your symptoms are due to ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include blood and urine testing, a medical exam, and perhaps educational or psychological tests.
The tests will be used to determine the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be associated with ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to determine if there are any functional or structural problems. In some instances the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be examined for other conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questionnaires which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests may provide you with the information that you suffer from ADHD However, a doctor's clinical interview is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
The process could last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. It could also involve the clinician seeking out a history of substance abuse or depression because these issues are often co-occurring 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 be required to review the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal insight can reveal details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on only seeing a patient once rather than completing a complete examination. This can lead to incorrect diagnosis. 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 they see on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator the severity of ADHD.
For some adults, it could be a relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or grief for not achieving expectations or the fact that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in the life, may be complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and a lack of attention. These characteristics can have grave consequences in a variety of areas including relationships work, health, and careers.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and complicated process. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to seek suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the specialist and their professional credentials to make sure they're a good fit for your needs. It is important to locate specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment.
An interview with the evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD assessment. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how your symptoms impact your life and if they affect work, school or 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 set of questions. For example, you might be asked if you often miss appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request people who are familiar with your child or you to complete questionnaires on what they have observed. For adults, this could include spouses or siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments contribute to your symptoms. They may also screen for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder or psychosis that is in the beginning. They could also test for medical conditions that are underlying like hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will provide your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures the way you react to target and non-target stimuli. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computer-based test that tests your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
A variety of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD assessments and provide a diagnosis. This could include psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been happening. The specialist will also ask if there any family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is 70%-80 percent hereditary and that genetics play a big role 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 different environments because ADHD symptoms vary in different settings. In addition, to be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must display at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity, inattention or an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for at least 6 months.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, like thyroid issues, should also be considered. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleep habits and any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that might have affected your child or your own brain development.
He will also look into whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are connected to any other health condition or medications you or your child takes. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes cause side effects such as stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and certain sleep medications may also cause these adverse effects.
The doctor will also have to determine if there's an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child could have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the information and make the diagnosis.