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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some individuals have difficulty staying in control and following directions, or staying focused. Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you a specialist. Also be sure to contact your insurance provider to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults. Diagnosis Process For adults, a valid diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults. A detailed interview about you and your symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary assessment. The healthcare professional will also want to know how long your symptoms have been present and how they impact you. They might also want to talk to a family member or close friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluation will also involve questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder was present in the early years of childhood. So, the healthcare professional will need to look over your school records and speak to people who knew you as a child. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances an evaluator could recommend cognitive tests, like IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning problems. They may also suggest that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out any physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms. If your healthcare provider is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include blood and urine tests, a medical examination as well as psychological or educational testing. Tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also suggest a the spirometry test, which evaluates the capacity of your lungs. They might also suggest that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances, your evaluator might suggest that you or a child be examined for conditions that share similar symptoms with ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are many ADHD questions and quizzes that can act as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests can be helpful in identifying the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to consult an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and doesn't rush into prescribing medication. The process can take between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about a history or substance abuse or depression as these problems can co-occur along 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. In addition, the clinician will need to look over the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. The personal perspective of a person can reveal information that cannot be gleaned through questionnaires. Some doctors are overloaded and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting an extensive evaluation. This could lead a doctor to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red flag in the event that the physician is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD. For adults, the evaluator may request that the patient complete ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have impacted their lives. The evaluator will then compare the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD. For some adults, it can be a great relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or sadness for not achieving expectations or that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life, can be a bit complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that are typical of ADHD can have a significant impact in many areas of a person's life, including relationships, career, and health. The Tests It can be challenging and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. The best way to prepare is to seek recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. You should also research the physician and their professional credentials to ensure they're a good fit for your needs. adhd diagnosis in adults www.iampsychiatry.uk is essential to find a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment. An interview with an evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how symptoms affect you and whether they impact your work, school or social relationships. The evaluator can also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They typically consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you to answer a series of questions. You might be asked whether you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt other people. Many evaluators also solicit people who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. Adults may be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses or children. Children may be required to complete questionnaires by coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches, or nannies. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a survey. Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They could also test for underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or seizure disorders. Some evaluators will provide you or your child an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to target and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that measures your ability to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency at which you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluaters determine which type of ADHD you have either inattentive or impulsive. Follow-up Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can include a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The specialist will want to know what your concerns are and how long the issues have been recurring for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80 percent inheritable and that genes are a major factor in determining whether you or your child will have symptoms. The expert will be interested in how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work and school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in different environments since ADHD symptoms are different 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 daily functioning. It must last for at minimum six months. To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, he must exclude other conditions. These could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above including anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns and any accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your child's brain. The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in your children or yourself are caused by any health condition or medications you or your child take. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes cause side effects such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other medications, including antidepressants and some sleep medicines are also prone to these side effects. The expert will also need to determine if there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child may be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the information and come up with a diagnosis.