Speak "Yes" To These 5 Getting An ADHD Diagnosis Tips
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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It is the reason why some people have difficulty staying in control in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family doctor or therapy provider to refer you a specialist. Contact your insurance provider to see if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a correct diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults.
Often, an initial assessment will begin with a detailed interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine the length of time your symptoms have been a problem and how they impact your daily life. They might ask you to speak to a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you may include questions regarding your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present in childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and talk to people who knew you when you were a child. They will also discuss whether you have experienced any other mental health problems like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances, the evaluator will recommend cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also suggest that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may be causing your symptoms.
If your healthcare provider is confident that your symptoms are due to ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include blood and urine tests, medical examinations, and possibly psychological or educational tests.
The tests will be used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals in your body that might be linked to ADHD like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. 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 issues. In certain instances your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be evaluated for conditions that share similar symptoms to ADHD such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult a medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medications.
The process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. It may also include the doctor seeking out a history of depression or substance abuse, as those problems 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. In addition, the clinician will be required to review school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be interviewed. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this step or insist on visiting a patient once rather than completing a complete evaluation. This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis. This is a red flag if the clinician is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
For adults, the evaluator could request that the patient complete ratings for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how the symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator compares the ratings to the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
It's often a relief for some adults to finally be given an ADHD diagnosis. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or grief for not achieving expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in life, can be a bit complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have severe implications in a variety of areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, work and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It involves many forms as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. It is possible to prepare by obtaining recommendations from reliable doctors family members, friends and relatives. You should also research the specialist and their professional credentials to ensure they're a good fit to your needs. It is essential to find a professional who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluator. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they interfere with your work, school, or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. You might be asked whether you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators also ask those who know you or your child well to complete questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. Adults might be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children may be asked to fill out questionnaires by teachers, coaches, daycare workers or the nannies. Personal insight can reveal details that are not possible to obtain from a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also perform cognitive testing to see whether learning or intellectual impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They could also test for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or seizures.
Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to target 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 a series of geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to the target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine which subtype of ADHD you have: inattentive or impulsive.
The Follow-Up
A variety of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD assessments and provide a diagnosis. This could be a psychologist or psychiatrist as well as a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are, and how long they have been occurring for. The doctor will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% hereditary. Genetics play a significant factor in determining if your child or you experience symptoms.
The specialist will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD affects your life at home, work and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various environments because ADHD symptoms vary in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child be required to show at least six symptoms click here of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that interferes with the daily activities. It must last for at minimum for six months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they will need to rule out other conditions. These could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. Additionally, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleep patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. The side effects of stimulant medication like those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and some sleep medicines, can also have these side effects.
Finally, the doctor will determine if a comorbidity present, which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine all of the data and make a diagnosis.