ADHD Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing ADHD in children. A consultation with an ADHD expert is the first step towards an accurate diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It's also beneficial to bring rating scales and interviews that provide information regarding your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The evaluator might ask questions about a person's childhood and their family history and utilize checklists to document symptoms. The evaluator can also look over the person's school and work records, and may also want to talk with teachers or others who interact with them.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. The criteria include that the person has been suffering from multiple symptoms for at least six months, and that they occur in a variety of settings, like at school or at home. The examiner will also be looking for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, for example anxiety, depression or a thyroid problem.
In adults, the evaluator will assess how severe the symptoms are and how they affect work or social life. The evaluation will also inquire how the person feels about his or her symptoms and how they interfere with daily functioning.
Many people with ADHD have trouble remembering whether their issues began in the beginning or later. A specialist will often interview people who are familiar with the individual, for example, their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher parent for a child. The examiner might use checklists to assess adults, as well as a list with child-related behaviors.
Unlike in the past, the current diagnostic guidelines state that an adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD unless symptoms were present before the age of 12. This change is designed to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, like depression and anxiety.
Medical Histories
If you suspect your child or yourself suffer from ADHD The first step is to consult an expert who will perform a thorough evaluation. Talk to your doctor or mental health specialist in your area for recommendations or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also reach out to an adult ADHD support group, as many of them have worked with local specialists who could provide recommendations.
A healthcare professional will review the medical history of a patient and family background during the ADHD diagnostic assessment. They will ask about the impact of the symptoms on functioning in different settings such as at work, home, or in relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms, as the APA's guidelines on ADHD stipulate that the symptoms require significant impairment in order to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will typically interview the patient, however, they might also request to speak to the person's parents, siblings, and other family members who know him well. Some professionals ask people to fill out questionnaires or scales. These may include ADHD symptom checklists and rating of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can be important sources of information.
It is essential to evaluate the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere with functioning in different environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines note that symptoms must manifest frequently and affect performance. This is crucial, since other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities could present in a similar way to ADHD (Austerman 2015). Additionally an exam by a doctor could be conducted to determine other possible causes of the symptoms, like thyroid issues, vision or hearing issues, or the use of certain drugs, such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In certain cases there are instances where the family history of ADHD is a crucial element in determining if you have an diagnosis. It is a hereditary condition, and a careful review of the patient's and his or her relatives histories can help determine if there is a familial pattern.
It is crucial for healthcare professionals to get a complete picture of a patient's symptoms, for example, whether they happen at school, work or in social situations. A provider must also assess the degree of how a patient's symptoms hinder their everyday functioning. This is more important than simply counting symptoms or assessing the intelligence of a patient.
For teenagers and children, a doctor may interview the child or teen as well as their parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct a detailed interview for adults.
A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical exam, that can rule out certain health conditions that can cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also taken. This can include school and medical records, as in addition to a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological evaluation. For adults, old school records are often useful in establishing whether symptoms began in the early years of life.
When diagnosing adults, it is crucial to look at how the symptoms impact daily life. A thorough psychiatric exam might be required, including rating scales and questions by caregivers and patients and caregivers, as well as a clinical interview and referral for medical examination. Additionally assessment of neuropsychological or psychometric factors is often used for adults to determine how the symptoms relate to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A provider will interview you or your child about issues at home, in school and in the community. The provider will also inquire about your or your child's past medical, family and personal history and will review any documents that you might bring along including old school report cards. This information will assist the doctor to decide if you or your child should take a test for diagnosing 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 six-month period, and cover both at school and home. The ratings should be provided by those who know your child or you well, such as coaches, teachers and religious leaders, scouts and parents.
Children and adults who are diagnosed with ADHD are likely to exhibit symptoms that are debilitating and interfere with daily functioning, whether at school, work, or play. The signs should be evident in the early years of childhood, usually before 12 years of age. They cannot be caused by any other mental health condition.
The sensitivity and accuracy of ADHD evaluations can be improved by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ and cognitive performance. However, they should only be utilized as part of an assessment process that includes a clinician interview as well as rating scales. These assessments can include the administration of a standard test like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults, or a computerized testing method that tests executive functions, short-term memory and speed of response. In the near future, technology that is digital like virtual reality and head sensors that monitor head movements for continuous performance tests may help improve ecological validity by allowing people to be immersed into their natural environment instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
Your doctor or mental health care specialist may recommend you to a specialist if he or they suspect ADHD. A thorough evaluation will consist of a thorough interview, information from other sources, such as your spouse or significant others, and the standardized scales of behavior ratings for ADHD. The evaluator will order tests according to the clinical impression to check for any conditions that might be causing your symptoms. book adhd assessment could include depression or learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD evaluation requires the examiner to determine if your symptoms are significantly affecting your functioning and life. The problem can manifest in a variety of settings, for example, at home, at work, in school, or with your social interactions. The evaluator will ask you how your symptoms affected you in each situation. This will assist the evaluator identify the cause and make treatment recommendations.
In addition to the symptom ratings The complete assessment will typically include one or more performance tests that are standard for ADHD. These tests are founded on research that compares the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those who do not. These instruments enhance the limitations of a traditional clinical interview since they focus more on specific behavior rather than an individual's overall performance. These measures can help evaluators identify when an individual is lying or attempting to cheat the test this issue has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
In addition to the standardized test and the symptom rating scales as well as the symptom rating scales, an extensive ADHD assessment should include brain scans and other neurological imaging procedures. These tests are not utilized in clinical settings because they are costly and expose patients to ionizing radioactivity.