ADHD Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a consultation with an expert in ADHD.
You must bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It's also helpful to bring ratings scales and interviews that provide information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis is based on a physical exam and a conversation with a doctor. The evaluator will inquire about the person's family and childhood, and may use checklists to record the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator can also look over the person's school and work records, and may also want to speak with teachers or other individuals who spend time with them.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. These criteria include that the person has several symptoms for at least 6 months, and that the symptoms occur in more than one place like at home, at work or school. The evaluator will also look for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, for example anxiety, depression, or a thyroid condition.
Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of their symptoms and their impact on work or social life. The evaluation will also inquire how the individual feels about his or her symptoms and how much they affect their daily life.
Many people with ADHD struggle to remember if their problems began in the beginning or later. A specialist will often interview someone who is familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher parent of a child. The evaluator might utilize checklists for adults and for children there is a list of behavior to look out for.
Unlike in the past, the current diagnostic guidelines indicate that an adult shouldn't be diagnosed with ADHD in the event that symptoms appeared before age 12. This change is intended to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, like depression or anxiety.
Medical History
If you suspect that your or your child is suffering from ADHD, the first step is to find an expert who can provide an extensive evaluation. Consult your physician or an experienced local mental health professional for suggestions, or consult the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to a support group for adults with ADHD because many of them have worked with local experts who are able to provide referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a medical professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. adhd assessment cost uk will inquire about whether the symptoms affect functioning in various settings, such as at home, at work, or in relationships. It is important to assess how severe the symptoms are because the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD state that the symptoms must cause significant impairment to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the patient, but they may also ask to speak to the person's siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals may ask patients to complete questionnaires or ratings scales, including ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can be useful sources of information.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines state that symptoms must be frequent and affect performance. This is crucial due to the fact that other conditions, such as mood disorders and learning disabilities may present similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). In addition medical exams can be performed to check for other possible causes of the symptoms, including thyroid issues, vision or hearing problems or the use of certain medications such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In some cases there are instances where the family history of ADHD is a key element in determining if you have the diagnosis. It is highly inherited and a review of the patient's and their relatives' histories will aid in determining if there's any familial pattern.
It is essential for health professionals to get a complete picture of the symptoms a patient is experiencing, including whether they occur at work, school or in social settings. A doctor should also be able to determine the degree to which symptoms affect the person's everyday functioning. This is a more accurate measure than simply calculating symptoms or assessing the level of intelligence of the patient.
A doctor may interview the child or teen and also the parents. In most cases, a pediatrician psychiatrist is trained to evaluate and treatment of ADHD. A mental health professional with a vast knowledge of ADHD is required to conduct an in-depth interview for adults.
A thorough evaluation includes a physical examination which can help determine certain conditions that may cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical history is also a must. This can include medical and school records as in addition to a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological evaluation. Old school records can be helpful to adults to determine if symptoms started in the early years of childhood.
In the case of diagnosing adults, it is especially important to look at how the symptoms impact everyday functioning. A thorough psychiatric evaluation could be required, which may include ratings scales and questions from the patient and caregivers and caregivers, as well as a consultation with a doctor and referral for a medical examination. In addition assessment of neuropsychological or psychometric factors can be used in adult cases in order to see how the symptoms relate to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A provider will ask you or your child questions about their issues at home, at school and in the community. The provider will inquire about your child's medical and family history, and will review any records you have, like old school report cards. This information will help the provider determine if you or your child should undergo a test to determine ADHD.
Your provider will use rating scales to identify if you or your child meets criteria for ADHD, including six established symptoms in the two main categories of the disorder -- inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. These ratings are usually taken over a period of six months, which includes both at home and in school. The ratings should be given by people who know your child and yourself well, including coaches, teachers and religious leaders, scouts, and parents.
Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that are debilitating and can hinder their daily functioning, whether at work, school or playing. The signs should be evident in early childhood, typically before the age of 12. They aren't caused by another mental health issue.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, brain function and cognitive functioning can improve the accuracy and precision of ADHD evaluations. However, they should only be used as part of an assessment process that includes a clinician interview and rating scales. These assessments may include the use of a standardized questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or an adaptive test that is computerized that can measure response speed short-term memory, executive functions. In the future digital technology like virtual reality and head motion sensors for continuous performance tests, could help improve the ecological validity by permitting people to immerse themselves into their surroundings instead of sitting in a clinic.
Tests
If your doctor or mental health professional suspects ADHD, he or she may refer you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough evaluation should consist of an extensive interview, details from independent sources like your spouse or significant other and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. Based on the clinical findings the evaluator might conduct tests to test for any other conditions that could affect your symptoms, such as depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD evaluation requires the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are significantly impairing your functioning and life. Impairment can be in a variety of settings such as your workplace, home or school, and social relationships. The evaluator will inquire how your condition affected you in each situation. This will enable the evaluator to establish an assessment and formulate treatment recommendations.
A comprehensive assessment will comprise in addition to rating of symptoms and standardized performance tests for ADHD. These tests are based on research comparing the behavior of people suffering from ADHD to those who do not. They enhance the effectiveness of the clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviors rather than a person's overall functioning. These tests can help evaluators detect when an individual is lying or trying to cheat a test. This issue has been recognized by experts in the field for many years.
A thorough ADHD evaluation includes the brain scan or other neuroimaging tests in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. However, these tests are not commonly used in a clinical setting due to the expense and expose the patient to ionizing radiation.