A Look At The Good And Bad About Getting An ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. This is why some people struggle with things such as staying focused in their work, following directions and remaining organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also be sure to contact your insurance provider to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
An in-depth interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is usually the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional will want to know how long it has been a problem and how they impact your daily life. They may ask you to speak to a close family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process will also include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines don't allow a physician 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 with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They may also inquire whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.
In certain situations the evaluator might recommend cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or assessments for learning or memory problems. They might also suggest other medical exams to rule out physical ailments that could be creating your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issues.
If your doctor is certain that your symptoms are due to ADHD They may suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests will likely include urine and blood tests, a medical examination, and possibly educational or psychological testing.
The tests will be used to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be associated with ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also suggest a the spirometry test, which measures your lung capacity. They may also recommend an imaging scan of the brain to check for any functional or structural problems. In some cases, your evaluator might suggest that you or your child be tested for disorders that have similar symptoms with ADHD, like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD questions and quizzes which can serve as a screening instrument before you schedule an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be helpful in identifying the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medications.
This process can take between 2 and 3 hours. It includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might affect their symptoms. It could also include the doctor seeking out a history of depression or abuse of substances because these issues are often co-occurring 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. Additionally, the therapist will need to look over the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they might also interview a spouse or family member. The personal perspective of a person can reveal information that cannot be gleaned through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this step or insist on only visiting a patient once rather than completing a complete examination. This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis. This is a red flag if the clinician is not adamant about the criteria to diagnose ADHD.
For adult diagnosis of adhd , the evaluator could request the patient to fill out ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how those symptoms have affected his or her life. The evaluator compares the scores with the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
For some adults, it could be a relief to finally receive a diagnosis of ADHD. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't discovered until later in life- can be complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and lack of concentration. These traits can have negative consequences in a variety of fields such as relationships work, health, and careers.
The Tests
It can be difficult and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork, interviews, and tests. The best way to prepare is to seek recommendations from family, friends and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the specialist and their professional credentials to make sure they're a good match to your requirements. It is crucial to find a doctor who specializes in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how symptoms affect you and whether they impact your work, school or your relationships. The evaluator could also use rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. They typically consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. You might be asked whether you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators will also ask people who are familiar with you or your child to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings; for children, it could be coaches, teachers, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a questionnaire.
Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disabilities are contributing factors to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They might also test for underlying conditions like seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.
Certain evaluators will offer you or your child an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to target 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 close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli and how long it takes for you to respond to target stimuli. This will help the evaluators determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
The Follow-Up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This could be a psychologist or psychiatrist, neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The specialist will want know what your concerns are and how long they have been recurring for. He will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genes play an important influence on whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.
The expert will want to know how your or your child's ADHD affects your life at home, work, and school. He will inquire about your your child's behavior across various environments, since the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different environments. In addition, to be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must display at least six distinct signs of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning for at least 6 months.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. This could include psychiatric disorders that are not listed such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or your own sleep habits and any accidents or injuries in the past that might have impacted your child's or your brain's development.
The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are connected to any health issues or medications that you or your child are taking. Side effects of stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other medications, including sleep medications, antidepressants and a few sleep aids.
The doctor will also have to determine if there's a comorbidity, which means you or your child could have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review the information and determine a diagnosis.