10 Getting An ADHD Diagnosis Tricks Experts Recommend
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. This is why some people struggle with issues like staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family doctor or your therapist to refer you to an expert. Also, check with your insurance to see if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse is required to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. These are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
An in-depth interview about your health and symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional will also be interested in knowing how long your symptoms have been present and how they impact your daily life. They might ask you to speak to a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. The current guidelines do allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present in childhood. Therefore, the healthcare professional will need to review your school records and speak to people who knew you as an infant. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.
In certain situations, the evaluator will suggest cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also suggest that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms.
If the healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests could include blood and urine tests, a medical examination, and possibly educational or psychological testing.
Tests are used to measure levels of certain chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD, such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD questions and tests that you can use as a screening tool, prior to scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests can alert you to the possibility that you have ADHD However, an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
The process can take between 2 to 3 hours. It includes educating the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about a history or substance abuse or depression 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. In getting a adhd diagnosis , the clinician will want to review the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on visiting a patient once instead of conducting a thorough evaluation. This could lead to a incorrect diagnosis. If the clinician is too firmly rooted in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show six or more symptoms for a diagnosis this is an indication of trouble.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator compares the ratings to the checklist and evaluates for ADHD.
For certain adults, it may be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The underlying emotions, such as guilt or grief for not living up to expectations or that the disorder was not recognized until later in the life, can be complex. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, career, 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. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the physician and their credentials to ensure they are a good fit for your needs. It is essential to find an expert who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
An interview with the evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluator may ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms affect your life and whether they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series of questions. For example, you might 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 fill in questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. Adults could be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children might be required to complete questionnaires by coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches, or nannies. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They may also screen for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression, or psychosis that is in the beginning. They could also test for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizures.
Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention and retain a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at how often you respond non-target stimuli, and the time it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators determine the type of ADHD you are: inattentive or impulsive.
The Follow-Up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychologist or psychiatrist as well as neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are, and how long these problems have been affecting you for. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80 percent hereditary. Genes play an important role in whether your child or you be affected.
He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, school, and work. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior across various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they occur in different settings. To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must have at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity or inattention and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the specialist will have to rule other conditions out. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above such as anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your child's sleep patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health issues or medications that you or your child is taking. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other medications like sleep medications, antidepressants, and certain sleep aids.
Finally, the doctor will be required to determine if a comorbidity is present, which means that your child or you is suffering from a different condition that may cause symptoms of ADHD like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the data and come up with an assessment.