Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why people have issues like staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapy provider to refer you a specialist. 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 will be required to evaluate adults in order to make a proper diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
A detailed interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional will also be looking to determine how long it has been present and how they impact your daily life. They might also want to speak to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you will include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines don't allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other individuals who knew you as a child. They will also discuss whether you have had any other mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests such as IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also suggest that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could cause your symptoms.
If a healthcare professional is confident that your symptoms are due to ADHD They will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests could include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and even psychological or educational tests.
Tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, for example dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also examine your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some cases the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD like depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questionnaires that can act as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to make a diagnosis is through an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing drugs.
This process could take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours and includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it may influence their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about a history or depression or substance abuse as 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. Additionally, the doctor will want to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are rushed and don't bother with this step or they may insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out a full examination. This could lead a doctor to make an incorrect diagnosis. If the doctor is too firmly rooted in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show six or more symptoms to receive a diagnosis this is a red flag.
For adults, the evaluator could ask the patient to complete scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have impacted his or her life. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
For some adults, it could be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. However, the emotions that accompany it -such as guilt over not living up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't recognized until later in life -it can be a challenge. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career, and health.
how to get an adult adhd diagnosis
Finding an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and complicated process. It requires many forms as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. The best way to prepare is to seek suggestions from family members, friends and doctors you trust. You should also research the specialist and their qualifications to ensure they're a good fit for your needs. It is crucial to find a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms impact your daily life and if they interfere with work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For instance, you might be asked if you often miss appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators will also ask people who know your child or you to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. Adults may be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children might be asked to fill out questionnaires by coaches, teachers, daycare workers or the nannies. Personal insights can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a questionnaire.
A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive testing to see whether intellectual or learning disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They may also screen for underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or seizure disorders.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure the way you react to non-target and 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 geometric shapes. The examiner will look at the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This will help the evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
The Follow-Up
A variety of mental health professionals can offer ADHD evaluations and make an assessment. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will want to know what your concerns are and how long they have been occurring. The doctor will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is about 70%-80 percent hereditary and that genes play a significant role in determining whether you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
The specialist will want to know how your your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work and at school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various situations since ADHD symptoms vary in different settings. To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must have at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning for at least 6 months.
To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he will need to exclude other conditions. This could include other psychiatric disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns as well as any accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are connected to any health issues or medications you or your child take. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes cause side effects such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other medications, including antidepressants as well as some sleep medications, can also have these adverse effects.
Finally, the expert will determine if a comorbidity is present which means that your child or you is suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD for example, bipolar disorder, depression anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the information and come up with a diagnosis.
