Getting an ADHD Diagnosis

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

Ask your family physician or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also, inquire with your insurance company to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.

Diagnosis Process

For adults, a correct diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who can determine the presence of ADHD among adults.

An in-depth interview about your health and symptoms is usually the first step in the initial evaluation. The healthcare professional could also inquire about how long you have had symptoms and how they impact your life. They might ask you to talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms.

The process of evaluation will also involve questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional might be able to examine your school records or talk to teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They will also ask whether you've had any mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

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

If your healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and possibly educational or psychological testing.

Tests will be used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. They may also give you a spirometry test, which evaluates the lung capacity of your. They might also suggest that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In some instances the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD, such as anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.

The Interview

There are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires that can be used as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with your doctor. These tests may provide you with the information that you may have ADHD However, a doctor's clinical interview is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.

The process can take between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about a history or substance abuse or depression 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. Additionally, the doctor will want to review the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member could also be interviewed. Personal insight can uncover information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires.

Some doctors are rushed and don't bother with this step or they may insist on seeing a patient just one time, rather than carrying out an entire assessment. This could lead to a doctor making a wrong diagnosis. This is a red flag if the clinician is not adamant about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.

For adults, the evaluator could ask the patient to complete scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how the symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator compares the scores with the checklist and assesses for ADHD.

It's often a relief for some adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis. However, the emotions that accompany it -such as guilt over not living up to expectations, or regret that the disorder was not recognized until later in life -- can be complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have a significant impact in many areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, work, and health.

The Tests

It can be a challenge and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews and tests. You can prepare by obtaining advice from reliable doctors family members, friends and relatives. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure they meet your needs. It is essential to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.

An interview with the evaluator is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or you to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how 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 are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. You might be asked whether you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.

Many evaluators also request people who know you and your child well to fill in questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses and siblings for children. It could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire.

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

Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure how to get diagnosed with adhd you respond both to target and nontarget stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared test that measures your ability to pay attention and recall a series of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you react to non-target stimuli, as well as how long it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This will help the evaluators identify the type of ADHD you have: inattentive or impulsive.

Follow-up

Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are and how long these problems have been affecting you for. The doctor will also inquire whether there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% hereditary. Genetics play a significant influence on whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.

He will inquire about how get diagnosed with adhd ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school and at work. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child will also need to have six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. This must last at least six months.

To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out any other conditions. These may include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above, mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. Additionally, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your child's brain.

The doctor will also determine whether the symptoms of ADHD in you or your children are caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child take. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these side effects.

The doctor will also have to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child might have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will examine the data and make the diagnosis.