Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It explains why people struggle with issues such as staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family physician or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychiatrist, psychologist, or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
An in-depth interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in the initial evaluation. The healthcare professional could also inquire about how long you have had symptoms and how they are affecting your life. They might ask you to speak to a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The evaluation process will 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, your healthcare provider might want to review your school records or talk with teachers or other people who knew you as a kid. They may also inquire whether you've had any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
In some instances an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests like IQ testing or tests for learning or memory problems. They might also suggest other types of medical exams to rule out physical issues that may be the cause of your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid disorders.
If your healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and possibly educational or psychological tests.
how to get a adhd diagnosis are conducted to determine the levels of specific chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They may also suggest that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for structural or functional abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator could suggest that you or your child be tested for other conditions that may have similar symptoms 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 tool before you schedule an appointment with your doctor. These tests could alert you to the possibility that you have ADHD However, an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can take about 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might influence their symptoms. It could also involve the doctor asking about a past history of depression or substance abuse, as those problems 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. Additionally, the doctor will need to look over school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they could also interview a spouse or family member. Personal insight can provide details that are not available through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this step or insist on visiting a patient once instead of completing a full assessment. 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 may ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluation will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess for ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis. However, the emotions that accompany it -such as guilt over not meeting expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't recognized until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, career and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It involves lots of paperwork, interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. You must also research the doctor and their professional credentials to ensure they are a good fit for your needs. It is essential to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the best treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms impact your daily life and whether they interfere with work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you often miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators will also ask people who are familiar with your child or you to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. Adults could be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children may be asked to complete questionnaires from coaches, teachers, daycare workers or the nannies. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders are contributing to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or an underlying psychosis. They might also test for underlying disorders like seizures and hypothyroidism.
A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to non-target and target stimuli. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved test that measures your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at how often you react to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to react to the target stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine whether you have an impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are and how long the issues have been occurring for. He will also ask if there any family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is about 70% to 80% heritable, and that genes are a major factor in whether you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
The expert will be interested in how your or your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work and at school. He will ask about your or your child's behavior in various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child need to have six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. This must last at least six months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric conditions, mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, may also be considered. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain.
He will also look into whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are connected to any other health issues or medications that you or your child is taking. Side effects of stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants as well as some sleep medications are also prone to these side effects.
The doctor will also have to determine if there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child might 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 go through all the data and make a diagnosis.