ADHD Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing children. An interview with a clinical ADHD expert is the first step to getting a reliable diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. You can bring questionnaires and rating scales that provide details about your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis requires physical examination and an interview with a physician. The evaluator will inquire about the person's life and childhood, and might use checklists to note the person's symptoms. The evaluator may also review the person's school and work records, and may also want to talk 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. The criteria are that the person has had several symptoms for atleast six months and occur in a variety of settings for example, at school or at home. The examiner will also look for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or a thyroid issue.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on social or work life. The evaluator might also ask the person what their feelings are about their symptoms and whether or not they interfere with their daily functioning.
Many people with ADHD struggle to remember if their issues began in the beginning or later. A specialist will typically interview anyone who is familiar with the person, like their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher or parent for children. The examiner may utilize checklists for adults and for children the list of behaviours to look out for.
Contrary to the previous guidelines for diagnosing the adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms begin to manifest before the age of twelve. This change is intended to stop people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, for example, anxiety and depression.
Medical History
If you suspect that you or your child suffers from ADHD, the first step is to find an expert who can provide an exhaustive assessment. Ask your doctor or a mental health specialist in your area for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also contact a support group for adults with ADHD since many of them will have worked with local experts who could provide recommendations.
A healthcare professional will review the person's medical history as well as family history during the ADHD diagnostic evaluation. They will inquire about the effects of the symptoms on functioning in different environments such as at home, work or in relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms as the APA's guidelines for ADHD stipulate that the symptoms have to cause significant impairment in order to be considered a diagnosis.
The healthcare professional will interview the patient, but may request details from the patient's parents or siblings as well as friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals will ask patients to complete questionnaires or scales. They may also ask for ADHD symptom checklists and ratings of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can also be useful sources of information.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines state that symptoms must be frequent and interfere with performance. This is crucial, since other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities may present in a similar way to ADHD (Austerman 2015). Additionally, a medical exam may be conducted to determine other causes that could be causing the symptoms, like thyroid issues, vision or hearing problems or the use of certain medications such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In some cases, a family history of ADHD is a crucial aspect in obtaining an diagnosis. It is highly heritable, and a look at the patient's and relatives' histories will aid in determining if there is any pattern of inheritance in the family.
It is important that providers have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, such as whether or not they occur at work, in school, or social situations. A physician should also consider the extent to which symptoms interfere with the person's everyday functioning. This is a more reliable measure than simply looking at symptom counts or examining the patient's intelligence.
A doctor may interview teens or children, and also the parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is trained to evaluate and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a thorough interview is required by a mental health professional who has extensive knowledge of ADHD and has the time to evaluate each patient's situation.
A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical examination, which can rule out specific medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also obtained. For children, this may include medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of psychological health by school counselors or psychologists. The school records of the past can be helpful for adults to determine whether symptoms began in the early years of childhood.
When diagnosing adults, it is especially important to examine how the symptoms impact the daily activities. A thorough psychiatric exam could be required, which may include rating scales and questions by caregivers and patients and caregivers, as well as a clinical interview and referral for a medical examination. In addition, psychometric or neuropsychological assessment is sometimes used for adults to determine how the symptoms are linked to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child regarding their issues at home, in school and in the community. The doctor will also inquire about your or your child's past medical and personal history, as well as family and personal histories and will review any documents you may bring with you like old school reports. This information will assist the doctor to 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 six-month period, and cover both at school and home. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child or you well, including teachers, coaches, religious leaders, scouts, and parents.
Adults and children who are diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that are debilitating and can hinder their daily functioning at work, school or playing. Symptoms should start in early childhood, typically before the age of 12. he said caused by a mental health issue.
The sensitivity and precision of ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that assess IQ and cognitive function. They should be utilized in conjunction with a physician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment strategy. These assessments can involve the administration of a standard test like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized testing approach which measures executive functions, short-term memories and reaction speed. In the near future, digital technology such as virtual reality for continuous performance tests and sensors for head movement may aid in improving the ecological validity of these ADHD assessment tools by allowing the person being evaluated to be in their surroundings rather than sitting in a clinical office.
Tests
Your physician or a mental health specialist may recommend you to a specialist if he or they suspect ADHD. A thorough evaluation should consist of an extensive interview, details from independent sources such as your spouse or significant other and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. The evaluator will conduct tests in accordance with the clinical impression and will screen for conditions that could be affecting your symptoms. These include depression or learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
In order to conduct a thorough ADHD assessment, the evaluator must determine if the symptoms significantly impact your daily life and function. It can happen in a variety settings, including your work, home, school and social relationships. The examiner should inquire about what the impact of your condition has been on your life in each of these settings. he said will enable the evaluator to make an assessment and formulate treatment recommendations.
In addition to the symptom ratings, a complete assessment will typically include one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These tests are based on research that examines the behavior of people with ADHD and those who do not. They improve upon the limitations of the clinical interview by focusing on specific behavior rather than the general performance. These tests can help evaluaters determine if a person is lying or attempting to cheat a test. This problem has been recognized in the field for years.
A thorough ADHD assessment includes an examination of the brain or other neuroimaging techniques in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. These tests are not utilized in clinical settings because they cost a lot of money and expose patients to radioactive ionization.