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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It is the reason why some people have difficulty staying organized in their work, following directions or staying focused. Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you a specialist. Check with your insurance company to determine if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients. The Diagnosis Process For adults, a proper diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who can determine the presence of ADHD in adults. An in-depth interview about you and your symptoms is often the first step in an initial evaluation. The healthcare professional might also ask how long you've had symptoms and how they affect you. They might also suggest that you speak to a family member or close friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood. Because current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional might want to review your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who knew you as a kid. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests like IQ tests or tests for learning or memory issues. They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical issues that might be the cause of your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems. If your healthcare provider is sure that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include blood and urine tests, medical examinations, and possibly educational or psychological testing. The tests will be used to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be associated with ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. diagnosing adhd uk will also test your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be offered the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They may also recommend an imaging scan of the brain to check for any structural or functional abnormalities. In certain instances your evaluator may suggest that you or a child be examined for disorders that have similar symptoms to ADHD, like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a physician. These tests can be useful in identifying the possibility of ADHD however the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to consult an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and isn't rushed into prescribing medications. This process can take 2 to 3 hours and includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might affect his or her symptoms. It could also involve the doctor asking about a history of depression or substance abuse since 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 doctor will also want to examine the patient's school records as well as discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family member could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires. Some doctors rush through this process or insist on seeing a patient one time rather than completing a complete examination. This can cause doctors to make an incorrect diagnosis. This is a red flag when the doctor is too rigid in their criteria for diagnosing ADHD. For adults, the evaluator could request the patient to fill out scores for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how these symptoms have affected his or her life. The assessor will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess for ADHD. For some adults, it could be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. However, the underlying emotionslike guilt for not meeting expectations, or grief that the disorder was not noticed until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, career and health. The Tests It can be challenging and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires lots of paperwork, interviews and tests. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. You should also research the physician and their professional credentials to ensure they're a good match to your needs. It is crucial to find a professional who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child gets an accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment. The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluator. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms impact your life and whether they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series questions. You may be asked if you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt other people. Many evaluators will also ask people who know your child or you to complete questionnaires on what they have observed. Adults might be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses, children, or parents. Children may be required to complete questionnaires from coaches, teachers, daycare workers, or nannies. Personal experience can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a questionnaire. Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression and incipient psychosis, or substance abuse. They could also test for medical conditions that are underlying like hypothyroidism or seizures. Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to targeted and non-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 to detail and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify which type of ADHD you are: Inattentive or impulsive. The Follow-Up A variety of mental health professionals can offer ADHD assessments and provide a diagnosis. This can include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist or. The specialist will ask you what the issues you are facing and how long they have been occurring for. The doctor will also inquire whether there is a family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70%-80% heritable and that genes are a major factor in whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms. The professional will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work, and school. He will inquire about your your child's behavior in different situations, as the signs of ADHD are different when they occur in different environments. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child require six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that affects daily functioning. It must last for at least six months. To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out other conditions. This could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. Additionally, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleep patterns and any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain. The doctor will also consider whether the signs of ADHD in your child or you are caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. For instance, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause side effects such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can also be caused by other drugs like sleep medications, antidepressants and some sleep aids. Finally, the doctor will need to determine if a comorbidity is present which means that you or your child is suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD for example, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the data and make the diagnosis.