7 Helpful Tips To Make The Most Out Of Your Getting An ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It is the reason why some people have difficulty staying focused in their work, following directions or staying focused.
Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you an expert. Contact your insurance provider to determine if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients.
The Diagnosis Process
A psychiatrist, psychologist, or specialist nurse will need to examine adults to make a proper diagnosis. They are the only healthcare providers who can determine the presence of ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional might also ask how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they are affecting your life. They may also ask to speak to your family member or close friend about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood. Because current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who knew you as a kid. They'll also ask if you've had any other mental health problems like anxiety or depression.
In certain situations the evaluator may suggest cognitive testing for example, IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also suggest that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms.
If a healthcare professional is confident that your symptoms are due to ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests could include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and possibly educational or psychological testing.
Tests are used to measure levels of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you the spirometry test which evaluates your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In some instances the evaluator could suggest that you or your child be examined 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 numerous ADHD questions and tests that can be used to test your knowledge, before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests may alert you to the possibility that you may have ADHD, but a doctor's clinical interview is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
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 might influence their symptoms. It may also include the doctor seeking out a history of depression or substance abuse since 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 clinician will also want to look over the student's school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on seeing a patient one time instead of conducting a thorough evaluation. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. This is a red flag in the event that the physician is not adamant about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluation will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator for ADHD.
For some adults, it can be a relief to finally be diagnosed with ADHD. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or grief that the disorder wasn't recognized until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The impulsivity and inattention that are typical of ADHD can have a significant impact in a variety of areas of a person's life, including relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
It can be a challenge and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires many forms, interviews and tests. You can prepare by getting advice from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they're a good match for your requirements. It is essential to find a doctor who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
An interview with the evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD assessment. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or yourself to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how your symptoms impact your daily life and whether they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator can also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They typically consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you to answer a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you often forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators will also request those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or children; for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insight can uncover information that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire.
Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They could also test for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Some evaluators will provide your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-cleared computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and remember a series of geometric shapes. The evaluator will examine how often you respond non-targeted stimuli and how long it takes for you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators determine which subtype of ADHD you have either impulsive or inattentive.
A variety of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and make an assessment. This could be a psychiatrist or psychologist or psychologist or neurologist. The doctor will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been occurring. The doctor will also inquire if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genes play a major influence on whether your child or you be affected.
The professional will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD affects your life such as at work, home and school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various settings because ADHD symptoms are different in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also need to have at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that hinders everyday functioning. It must last for at least six months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. These could include other psychiatric disorders including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and medical conditions that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. The specialist will also ask about your child's or your own habits of sleep and any accidents or injuries in the past that could have affected your child or your own brain development.
He will also look into whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are connected to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child is taking. The side effects of stimulant medication like those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants as well as some sleep medications may also cause these adverse effects.
The expert will also need to determine if there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child could have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will examine all of the data and determine an assessment.