5 Reasons Getting An ADHD Diagnosis Is Actually A Beneficial Thing
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some people have difficulty staying organized in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you an expert. Also make sure to inquire with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
Usually, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional could also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they impact your life. They may ask you to speak to a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation will also 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 need to review your school records and speak to those who knew you as an infant. They will also discuss whether you have experienced any other mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
In certain instances the evaluator might suggest cognitive testing for example, IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They might also suggest other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that might be causing your symptoms, for instance thyroid disorders or seizure problems.
If your doctor is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and possibly educational or psychological testing.
Tests are conducted to measure levels of certain chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. They may also give you a spirometry test, which measures the capacity of your lungs. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural issues. In some instances, the evaluator may suggest that you or your child be examined for other disorders that exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires that can be used 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 get a diagnosis is through an experienced 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 time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. It could also involve the doctor seeking out a history of substance abuse or depression because these issues 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 clinician will also want to examine 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 insight can provide details that are not available through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on only seeing a patient once instead of conducting a thorough assessment. This can cause a doctor to make an incorrect diagnosis. If a doctor is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and insists that a patient needs to display six or more symptoms to receive a diagnosis, that's a red flag.
The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator compares the scores with the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
It's often a relief for some adults to finally receive 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 life, can be complex. adult diagnosis adhd and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career and health.
The Tests
The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and difficult process. It requires lots of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. You should also research the specialist and their professional credentials to make sure they're a good fit to your requirements. It is crucial to find a professional who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
An interview with an evaluator is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms impact your life and if they impact work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a set of questions. For instance, you could be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill out questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings for children. It could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They could also test for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine the way you react to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This will help the evaluators determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
Follow-up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. It could be a psychologist or psychiatrist, psychologist or neurologist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been occurring for. The doctor will also inquire if there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% hereditary. Genes play a major influence on whether your child or you be affected.
The professional will want to know how your or your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work and at school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in different situations because ADHD symptoms differ in different situations. To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD, your or your child must display six or more established symptoms of hyperactivity or inattention and an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for at least six months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out any other conditions. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed, anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also consider whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are connected to any health issues or medications you or your child take. For instance, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, including antidepressants and some sleep medicines, can also have these side effects.
The expert will also need to determine if there's a comorbidity, which means you or your child may be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will examine the data and make an assessment.