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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It is the reason why people struggle with things like staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.

Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to an expert. Also, contact your insurance provider to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.

Diagnosis Process

For adults, a correct diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults.

A detailed interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional may be able to inquire about the length of time you’ve had symptoms and how they are affecting your life. They may 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 do allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present during childhood. So, the healthcare professional will want to review your school records and talk to people who knew you when you were an infant. They may also inquire whether you’ve ever experienced any mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.

In some cases an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may cause your symptoms.

If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include blood and urine tests, a medical exam and, possibly, psychological or educational tests.

The tests are designed to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals within your body that could be related to ADHD, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which will measure your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some instances the evaluator could suggest 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 act as a screening tool before you schedule an appointment with a physician. These tests could help you recognize that you may have ADHD However, the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.

The process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. It may also include the clinician asking about a history of depression or abuse of substances since these conditions may co-exist 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 examine the patient’s school records as well as talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family member might also be interviewed. Personal experience can reveal information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.

Some doctors are in a rush and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out a full evaluation. adhd uk diagnosis can lead a doctor to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag when the doctor is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.

For adults, the evaluator might request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how these symptoms have impacted the patient’s life. The evaluator will then compare the scores to the checklist and assesses for 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 not meeting expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn’t recognized until later in life- can be complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and a lack of focus. These characteristics can have serious consequences in many areas such as relationships as well as careers and health.

The Tests

Finding an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and complicated process. It involves a lot of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. You can prepare by getting advice from trusted doctors, family members and friends. You must also research the doctor and their credentials to make sure they’re a good fit to your requirements. It is important to find a doctor who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child is getting an accurate evaluation and the most effective treatment.

An interview with the evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how your symptoms impact your daily life and whether they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also employ ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you 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 other people.

Many evaluators also ask those who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings and for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal insights can provide information that isn’t possible to obtain through a questionnaire.

Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disorders are contributing to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder or incipient psychosis. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying like hypothyroidism or seizures.

A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that measures your ability to pay attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The test examines how often you react to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from an impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.

Follow-up

Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can be a psychiatrist or psychologist, a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will ask you what the issues you are facing and how long the issues have been affecting you for. He will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% heritable. Genes play a major role in whether your child or you will be affected.

He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school and at work. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various environments since ADHD symptoms differ in different situations. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child be required to show six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that hinders everyday functioning. This must last at least six months.

To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out any other conditions. These could include other psychiatric disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your or your child’s sleeping patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your child’s brain.

The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in your child or you are connected to any health issues or medications that you or your child take. The side effects of stimulant medication, such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and some sleep medicines, can also have these adverse effects.

The doctor will also have to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child may have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine all of the information and determine the diagnosis.