Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It is the reason why some people struggle to stay organized, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adult patients.
The Diagnosis Process
A psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse is required to assess adults in order to determine the correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults.
Usually, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will also be looking to determine how long your symptoms have been present and how they impact you. They may ask you to talk to a friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, your healthcare provider might want to review your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who knew you as a kid. They will also discuss whether you have experienced any other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
In certain instances the evaluator may suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They might also suggest different types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that may be creating your symptoms, like thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your healthcare professional is certain 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 and a medical exam and even psychological or educational tests.
Tests will be used to measure levels of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances, your evaluator might suggest that you or your child be examined for disorders that have similar symptoms with ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD tests and quizzes that you can use as a screening tool, prior to scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests may help you recognize that you have ADHD however a doctor's clinical interview is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
adult adhd diagnosis uk can last between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. It could also involve the doctor asking about a history of depression or substance abuse because these issues 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. Additionally, the therapist will need to look over school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal insight can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out a full assessment. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. If a doctor is too rigid about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and insists that a patient must display more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis it's an indication of trouble.
For adults, the evaluator may request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how those symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator then compares the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a relief to finally be diagnosed with ADHD. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or sadness for not meeting expectations or that the disorder was not noticed until later in life, can be a bit complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that are typical of ADHD can have a significant impact throughout an individual's life, such as relationships, work and health.
The Tests
Getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and confusing process. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews and tests. You can prepare by getting advice from reliable doctors family members, friends and relatives. Research the specialist's credentials and ensure that they are a match for your needs. It is important to find a specialist who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure you or your child receives an accurate evaluation and the best treatment possible.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with the assessor. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms affect your life and if they interfere with school, work or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. You may be asked if you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also ask people who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses and siblings and for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire.
A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive testing to see whether intellectual or learning disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They may even screen for underlying conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Some evaluators will provide your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared test that measures your ability to pay attention and remember the geometric shapes of a set of. The evaluator will look at the frequency at which you react to non-target stimuli, as well as how long it takes you to react to the target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
The Follow-Up
A variety of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and provide an assessment. This can include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will want be aware of your concerns and how long they have been occurring. The specialist will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. It is believed that the disorder is about 70% to 80 percent inheritable, and that genes play a big role in whether you or your child will have symptoms.
The professional will want to know how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work, and at school. He will ask about your your child's behavior across various situations, as the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also need to have at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that interferes with the daily activities. The symptoms must last for at minimum for six months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they will need to rule out any other conditions. This could include psychiatric disorders that are not listed including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. Additionally, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any previous accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
He will also consider whether your 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 medications, including antidepressants as well as some sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects.
The expert will also need to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means 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 psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the data and determine the diagnosis.