5 Getting An ADHD Diagnosis Lessons From The Pros
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. This is why some people struggle with issues such as staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance provider to see if it covers ADHD assessments for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse is required to examine adults to make a proper diagnosis. These are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
An in-depth interview about you and your symptoms is usually the first step in a preliminary assessment. The healthcare professional will be interested in knowing how long it has been a problem and how they affect your daily life. They may ask you to speak with a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process may also include questions regarding your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present during childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to review your school records and speak to people who knew you as a child. They may also inquire if you have ever had any mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances, the evaluator will suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also suggest that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms.
If your healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests will likely include urine and blood tests, a medical exam and, possibly, educational or psychological testing.
The tests are designed to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals in your body that could be associated with ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some cases, the evaluator may suggest that you or your child be examined for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are plenty of ADHD tests and questionnaires which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and does not rush into prescribing medication.
The process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to 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. The psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to look over the patient's school records as well as discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal experience can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on seeing a patient once instead of conducting a thorough evaluation. This can lead to misdiagnosis. diagnosed with adhd is a red-flag if the clinician is too rigid in their criteria for diagnosing ADHD.
The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator compares the scores to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
It can be a relief for some adults to finally get an ADHD diagnosis. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or grief for not meeting expectations or the fact that the disorder was not noticed until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have severe implications in many areas of a person's life, including relationships, work, and health.
The Tests
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and confusing process. It involves a lot paperwork, interviews, and tests. It is possible to prepare by obtaining recommendations from reliable doctors family members, friends and relatives. Examine the credentials of the doctor and ensure that they are a match for your needs. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child is getting an accurate evaluation and the best possible treatment.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with the assessor. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how your symptoms affect your life and if they interfere with work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They typically comprise checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. For example, you might be asked if it is common to 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. For adults, this could be spouses or children; for children, it might be teachers, coaches and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can provide information that isn't feasible to collect through a questionnaire.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They may also screen for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression, or incipient psychosis. They may even screen for underlying disorders like seizures and hypothyroidism.
Some evaluators will provide your child or you an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to target and non-target 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 the frequency at which you react to non-target stimuli, as well as how long it takes you to react to the stimulus you want to respond. This can help evaluaters determine the type of ADHD you are: impulsive or inattentive.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are able to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This could include psychologists, psychiatrists psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are, and how long these problems have been happening. The specialist will also ask if there any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80% heritable, and that genes play a significant role in determining whether you or your child will suffer from symptoms.
He will inquire 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 situations, as the signs of ADHD are different when they are present in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child need to have at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that hinders the daily activities. The symptoms must last for at minimum for six months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above including anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that may have impacted your child's or yourself's brain development.
The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child take. For instance, stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD can cause side effects, such as stomachaches and insomnia. Other medications, including antidepressants and certain sleep medications are also prone to these side effects.
The doctor will also have to determine whether there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child may have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review the information and then make the diagnosis.