Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. This is why some people struggle with issues like staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family physician or your therapist to refer you to an expert. Also be sure to check with your insurance to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse is required to examine adults to make a proper diagnosis. These are the only healthcare providers who can determine the presence of ADHD in adults.
A thorough interview with your health and symptoms is often the first step in the initial evaluation. The healthcare professional will want to know how long it has been present and how they affect your daily life. They might ask you to speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional might want to review your school records or talk with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They may also inquire whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
In some cases an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests such as IQ tests or tests for learning or memory issues. They may also suggest that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may cause your symptoms.
If your healthcare provider is sure that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include urine and blood tests, medical examinations as well as psychological or educational tests.
The tests are used to measure the levels of certain chemicals within your body that could be linked to ADHD like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be given a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest an imaging scan of your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In certain instances the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be evaluated for other disorders that exhibit similar symptoms similar to ADHD like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD questions and quizzes that can act as a screening tool before you schedule an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in identifying the possibility of ADHD however the only way to make a diagnosis is with an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and does not rush into prescribing drugs.
This process can take 2 to 3 hours and includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might affect their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about a history or depression or substance abuse as these issues 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 psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to look over the patient's school records and discuss the situation with teachers. If diagnosing adhd in adults is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal insight can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on only seeing a patient once instead of conducting a thorough evaluation. This can lead to misdiagnosis. If a doctor is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and stipulates that a patient must display at least six symptoms for a diagnosis, that's an indication of trouble.
For adults, the evaluator may ask the patient to complete ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have affected his or her life. The evaluator then compares the scores with the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
For some adults, it could be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. However, the emotions that accompany it -like guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life -it can be a challenge. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have serious implications in a variety of areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It involves lots of paperwork, interviews and tests. You can prepare by obtaining recommendations from trusted doctors or family members, as well as friends. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure that they're a good match for your needs. It is essential to find a specialist who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child receives an accurate assessment and the best possible treatment.
The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms affect you and if they affect your school, work, or relationships. The evaluator could also employ ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone who is close to you to answer a series of questions. For example, you might be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators will also ask those who know your child or you to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. Adults could be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children may be required to complete questionnaires by coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches, or nannies. Personal insights can reveal information that is not possible to obtain from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental disorders contribute 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 conditions such as seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.
Some evaluators will give you or your child an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test that has been approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention to detail and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, as well as how long it takes you to react to the stimulus you want to respond. This can help evaluators to determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist as well as psychologist or neurologist. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been occurring for. He will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80 percent heritable. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you will be affected.
The expert will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work and school. He will ask about your or your child's behavior in various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they occur in different environments. In addition, to be eligible for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must exhibit six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for at least six months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the specialist must rule out other conditions out. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed, mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleeping habits, as well as any accidents or injuries in the past that could have affected your child or your own brain development.
He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health issues or medications that you or your child are taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and some sleep medicines, can also have these side 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 could be depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will examine the data and determine the diagnosis.