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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis

A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some people struggle with staying in control and following directions, or staying focused.

Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Also be sure to check with your insurance to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.

The Diagnosis Process

For adults, a valid diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who can identify ADHD among adults.

A typical initial evaluation will start with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional might be able to inquire about the length of time you've had symptoms and how they impact your life. They might also want to speak to your family member or close friend about your symptoms.

The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder was present in childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and speak to people who knew you when you were a child. They will also ask if you have ever had any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.

In certain situations, the evaluator will suggest cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend different types of medical tests to rule out physical issues that might be the cause of your symptoms, like thyroid disorders or seizure problems.

If your healthcare provider is sure that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the problem. These tests may include blood and urine testing as well as a medical examination and perhaps educational or psychological tests.

The tests will be used to determine the levels of certain chemicals within your body that could be associated with ADHD like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be offered a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest an imaging scan of your brain to determine if there are any functional or structural issues. In some instances your evaluator could suggest that you or a child be evaluated for disorders that have similar symptoms to ADHD, like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.

The Interview

There are many ADHD questions and tests that can be used as a screening tool before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and does not rush into prescribing medications.

The process can last from between 2 and 3 hours. It includes a time spent explaining to the patient what age diagnose adhd we know about ADHD and how it might affect their symptoms. It may also include the doctor asking about a history of substance abuse or depression because 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. Additionally, the therapist will want to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they could also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal insight can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.

Some doctors rush through this step or insist on only seeing a patient one time rather than completing a complete examination. This can lead to a doctor making an incorrect diagnosis. This is a red flag when the doctor 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 give examples of how the symptoms have affected the patient's life. The evaluation will then compare the ratings with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator the patient for ADHD.

It's often a relief for some adults to get an ADHD diagnosis. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or grief for not meeting expectations or that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. ADHD is characterised by impulsivity and lack of focus. These traits can lead to serious consequences in many areas such as relationships work, health, and careers.

The Tests

Finding an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It requires a lot of paperwork as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. The best way to prepare is to ask for recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. You should also research the physician and their professional credentials to ensure they are a good fit to your needs. It is important to find a professional who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child gets an accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment.

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 gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms affect your life and if they interfere with work, school or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you to answer a series of questions. For instance, you could be asked if you frequently forget appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people.

Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to complete questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or children and for children, it could be coaches, teachers, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that is not feasible to collect from a questionnaire.

The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders contribute to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They could also test for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizures.

Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that tests the way you react to target and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you react to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes you to respond to the target stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify the type of ADHD you are whether you are inattentive or impulsive.

The Follow-Up

Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This can 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. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80 percent hereditary and that genes play a big role in determining if you or your child will suffer from symptoms.

The professional will want to know how your or your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different environments, since the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child be required to show six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. The symptoms must last for at least six months.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. These may include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns as well as any previous injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your or your child's brain.

He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are connected to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child is taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other drugs, including sleep medications, antidepressants and certain sleep aids.

The expert will determine if a comorbidity is present which means that your child or you has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will go through all the data and make a diagnosis.