Are Getting An ADHD Diagnosis As Important As Everyone Says?
Wiki Article
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It is the reason why people struggle with things such as staying focused, following directions and being organized.
Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Also, check with your insurance to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
Diagnosis Process
A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to make a proper diagnosis. These are the only healthcare professionals who are able to diagnose ADHD in adults.
A typical initial evaluation will begin with a detailed interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional will want to know how long your symptoms have been present and how they impact your daily life. They might ask you to speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms.
The evaluation process 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 look over your school records and speak to those who knew you when you were a child. They will also discuss whether you've had any other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
In certain situations the evaluator might recommend cognitive testing like IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may be causing your symptoms.
If your doctor is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and perhaps educational or psychological testing.
The tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals in your body that might be linked to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you the spirometry test, which evaluates the capacity of your lungs. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances your evaluator could suggest that you or a child be examined for any conditions that have similar symptoms with ADHD such as anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are many ADHD tests and quizzes that can be used as a screening tool before scheduling an appointment with your physician. These tests may provide you with the information that you have ADHD however an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis.
This process could take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours and includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might influence their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about 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 review the student's school records and discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult or spouse, a family member could also be interviewed. Personal insight can reveal details that are not available through questionnaires.
Some doctors rush through this process or insist on only seeing a patient one time instead of conducting a thorough assessment. 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.
For adults, the evaluator might ask the patient to complete scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how these symptoms have impacted adult diagnosis adhd their lives. The evaluator will then compare the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.
It's often a relief for some adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for not meeting expectations, or the grief that the disorder was not noticed until later in lifeare often complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that characterize ADHD can have serious implications throughout an individual's life, such as relationships, career, and health.
The Tests
It can be challenging and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews and tests. It is possible to prepare by obtaining advice from reliable doctors or family members, as well as friends. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure that they meet 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 assessment and the best treatment possible.
The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluation expert. The evaluator will ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they affect your work, school or social relationships. The evaluator can also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They typically comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you to answer a series of questions. You may be asked if you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request those who know your child or you to complete questionnaires on what they have observed. For adults, this could include spouses or siblings and for children, it might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insight can uncover details that are not possible to obtain from a questionnaire.
Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments contribute to your symptoms. They might also screen for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They may even screen for underlying disorders like seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.
A few evaluators will 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 that has been approved by the FDA that measures your ability to pay attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes to respond to the stimulus you want to respond. This will help the evaluators determine if you suffer from an impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.
The Follow-Up
Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist or. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are, and how long these problems have been happening. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80 percent hereditary. Genes play a major factor in determining if your child or you will suffer from symptoms.
The professional will be interested in how your or your child's ADHD affects your life such as at work, home and school. He will ask about your your child's behavior across various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD you or your child be required to show six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interferes with the daily activities. The symptoms must last for at minimum for six months.
To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they will need to exclude other conditions. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed, anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's habits of sleep and any injuries or accidents in the past that could have affected your child or your own brain development.
The doctor will also determine whether the symptoms 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 may cause side effects, such as stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other medications, including sleep medications, antidepressants, and a few sleep aids.
Finally, the doctor will determine if a comorbidity is present which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine the data and make an assessment.