Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why people struggle with issues such as staying focused, following directions and being organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to an expert. Contact your insurance provider to see if it covers ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct 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 your health and symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional could also inquire about how long you have had symptoms and how they impact your life. adhd diagnosis uk adults might also suggest that you talk to your family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood. Because current guidelines do not permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They'll also ask if you've had any other mental health problems like depression or anxiety.
In some instances an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or tests for learning or memory issues. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms.
If your healthcare professional is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests will likely include blood and urine tests, a medical exam as well as psychological or educational tests.
Tests are conducted to determine the levels of specific chemicals that may be 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 offered an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to look for functional or structural issues. In some cases the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be examined for other conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD like depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD questions and tests that can be used as a screening tool, prior to scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests can be helpful in identifying the possibility of ADHD however the only way to get an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and isn't rushed into prescribing medications.
The process can take between 2 to 3 hours. It includes 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 depression or substance abuse since these conditions 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. The doctor will also want to review the patient's school records as well as talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might also interview a spouse or family member. Personal insight can uncover information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this step or insist on only seeing a patient one time instead of completing a full evaluation. This can lead to incorrect diagnosis. This is a red-flag if the clinician is too rigid 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 symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator compares the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
For some adults, it could be a relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or resentment for not achieving expectations or the fact that the disorder was not recognized until later in the life, may be complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of a person's life, including relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
It can be a challenge and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork as well as interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. Examine the credentials of the doctor and make sure they're a good match for your needs. It is essential to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure that you or your child receives an accurate assessment and the best treatment possible.
An interview with the evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or you to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how your symptoms impact your life and whether they affect school, work or relationships. The evaluator may also use ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. You may be asked if you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators will also ask those who know 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 required to complete questionnaires by teachers, coaches daycare workers, coaches or parents. Personal insights can provide information that isn't feasible to collect from a survey.
Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They might even screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizures.
Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and recall the geometric shapes of a set of. The test examines how often 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 identify the type of ADHD you have: Inattentive or impulsive.
The Follow-Up
A variety of mental health professionals can offer ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been affecting you for. The doctor will also inquire whether there is a family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70%-80 percent inheritable, and that genes play a big role in whether you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, school, and work. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in different settings since ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child need to have six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interferes with everyday functioning. The symptoms must last for at least six months.
To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they will need to exclude other conditions. These may include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above such as anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist 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 child's brain.
The doctor will also determine whether the signs of ADHD in your children or yourself are connected to any health issues or medications you or your child are taking. For instance, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD may result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and some sleep medicines are also prone to these adverse effects.
The specialist will also need to determine if there is a comorbidity, which means you or your child might be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the data and make a diagnosis.