10 Books To Read On Getting An ADHD Diagnosis
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It explains why people struggle with issues like staying focused, following directions and being organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Also be sure to contact your insurance provider to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
For adults, a valid diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who can identify ADHD in adults.
Usually, an initial assessment will start with a thorough interview about your life and symptoms. The healthcare professional may also ask how long you've had symptoms and how they affect you. They might suggest that you speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The process of evaluation will also involve questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder was present in the early years of childhood. So, the healthcare professional will want to look over your school records and speak to those who knew you when you were a child. They'll also ask if you have had any other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
In some cases, the evaluator will suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that may be the cause of your symptoms, like seizures or thyroid disorders.
If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests, medical examinations as well as psychological or educational testing.
Tests will be used to measure levels of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest an imaging scan of the brain to look for structural or functional abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that may have similar symptoms to ADHD like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are plenty of ADHD tests and questionnaires that can act as a screening instrument before you schedule an appointment with a physician. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to receive a diagnosis is through an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesn't rush into prescribing drugs.
This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes educating the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about a history or depression or substance abuse as these issues 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 review the patient's school records as well as talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal insight can reveal details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out an entire examination. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. If a doctor is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and states that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order for a diagnosis it's an indication of trouble.
The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluator compares the scores with the checklist and assesses for ADHD.
It's a great feeling for some adults to finally get an ADHD diagnosis. However, the underlying emotionslike guilt for not meeting expectations, or grief that the disorder wasn't recognized until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have serious implications in a variety of areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, work, and health.
The Tests
It can be difficult and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork as well as interviews and tests. The best way to prepare is to ask for recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure that they meet your needs. It is crucial to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluator. The evaluator will ask you or your child questions in order to know more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms affect your life and if they interfere with work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also employ rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For example, you might be asked if it is common to miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people.
Many evaluators will also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. Adults might be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children might be required to complete questionnaires by coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches, or the nannies. Personal insight can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey.
The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or mental impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They might also test for underlying disorders like hypothyroidism and seizure disorders.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to gauge how you respond both to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that measures your ability to pay close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators to determine whether you have an impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.
The Follow-Up
Many kinds of mental health professionals can provide ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. This can be a psychologist or psychiatrist, a psychotherapist or neurologist. The specialist will want to know the cause of your concern and how long they have been present for. The doctor will also inquire if there is a 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 inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, school and at work. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different situations, as the signs of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child require six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. It must last for at minimum for six months.
To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out any other conditions. Other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities could be a factor. adults diagnosed with adhd that affect brain function, such as thyroid problems, can be a possibility. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's habits of sleep and any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that could have affected your child or yourself's brain development.
He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health issues or medications that you or your child is taking. The side effects of stimulant medication, such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants as well as some sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects.
The doctor will also have to determine whether there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child might have a different condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will look over the information and determine a diagnosis.