ADHD Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing ADHD in children. A clinical interview with an ADHD expert is the first step towards a good diagnosis.
You should bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires and rating scales to provide information about your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The evaluator will ask questions about the person's family and childhood, and may employ checklists to record the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator will also review school and work records and may wish to speak with teachers or others who interact with the person.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. The criteria is that the person suffers from multiple symptoms that last for at least 6 months and that the symptoms are present in more than one place -- such as at home, work or school. The evaluator may also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.
In adults the evaluator will determine how severe the symptoms are and how they impact social or work life. The evaluator will also inquire about what the person's feelings are about the symptoms and how much they impact daily life.
Many people who suffer from ADHD have trouble remembering whether their problems began in the beginning or later. This is why an expert will typically interview someone who knows the person well for example, siblings or spouses for an adult, or an educator or parent for a child. The evaluator can use checklists to examine adults and a list of the behaviors that children exhibit.
Contrary to the previous guidelines for diagnosing the adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD until the symptoms have been identified before the age of twelve. This change is intended to prevent people with ADHD who were diagnosed as children from being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Medical Histories
If you suspect that you or your child has ADHD The first step is to locate an expert who can conduct a thorough evaluation. Talk to your doctor or mental health specialist in your area for recommendations, or search the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also contact an adult ADHD support group, since they may have worked with local specialists who could provide referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a healthcare professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire about how the symptoms affect the person's performance in various settings such as at work, home or in relationships. It is essential to determine how severe the symptoms are in light of the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that the symptoms must result in significant impairment for the diagnosis to be made.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the person, but they might also request to speak to the person's siblings, parents and friends who know him well. Some healthcare professionals require patients to fill out questionnaires or scales. These include ADHD checklists for symptoms and behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can be helpful sources of information too.
It is essential to evaluate how the individual's symptoms affect in various environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that symptoms must manifest frequently and affect performance. This is crucial, since other conditions like mood disorders or learning disabilities could appear similar as ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam may also be conducted to determine if there are other possible reasons for the symptoms. These could include thyroid issues as well as hearing or vision issues, or medication such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In some cases there is a history of ADHD within the family may be a major factor in the determination of a diagnosis. It is highly genetically inherited, and a review of the patient's and their relatives' histories can aid in determining if there is any familial pattern.
It is crucial for healthcare professionals to have a complete understanding of the symptoms a patient is experiencing, for example, whether they happen at work, school, or in social situations. A doctor should also be able to determine the degree to which symptoms interfere with the person's everyday functioning. adhd assessment price is a more reliable measure than simply looking at the number of symptoms or looking at the patient's IQ.
For teenagers and children, a doctor can interview the child or teen and their parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist who has extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct a thorough interview for adults.
A thorough assessment usually includes a physical exam which can rule out specific health conditions that can cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical record is also required. For children, this can include previous medical and school records as well as an evaluation of the psychological state 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.
If you are diagnosing an adult with psychiatric disorders, it is particularly important to look at how the symptoms impact daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric exam could be required, which includes scoring scales and questions asked by caregivers and patients, as well as a clinical interview and referral to medical exam. Adults may also undergo a psychometric or neuropsychological assessment to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will ask you or your child questions about their problems at school, home and in the community. The provider will also inquire about your or your child's past medical or personal history, including family and friends and will look over any records that you might bring along like old report cards from school. This information will allow the doctor to determine if you or your child needs to undergo an assessment for 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 and include both at home and in school. The rating must be performed by people who are familiar with your or your child's behavior like teachers, religious and Scout leaders, coaches, and parents.
To be diagnosed with ADHD children and adults must exhibit a symptomatic behavior that is a source of distress and hinders everyday functioning in a variety of situations, like at school, at work or playing. Symptoms must begin in childhood, typically before age 12. They cannot be caused by any other mental health disorder.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests to measure IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can increase the accuracy and precision of ADHD assessments. However, they should be used as part of an assessment process that includes a clinician interview as well as rating scales. These tests could include the use of a standardized questionnaire like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA) or a computerized adaptive testing approach that allows for measurement of responses speed short-term memory, executive functions. In the future digital technology like virtual reality and head motion sensors for continuous performance tests can help improve the validity of ecological tests by permitting people to immerse themselves into their natural environment instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
Your physician or a mental health professional may recommend you to an expert if he or she suspects ADHD. A complete evaluation will include an extensive interview, data from other sources like your spouse or significant others, and standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. The evaluator will conduct tests in accordance with the clinical impression and will screen for conditions that could affect your symptoms. These could include depression as well as learning disabilities or a medical condition.
In order to conduct a thorough ADHD assessment, the evaluator must determine if the symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life and function. Impairment can be in a variety of settings that include your workplace, home, school and social relationships. The evaluator needs to know what the impact of your condition has been on you in each setting. This will enable the evaluator to establish an assessment, and then formulate treatment recommendations.
A comprehensive test will include, in addition to rating of symptoms and standardized performance tests for ADHD. These tests are based on research which compares the behavior of people with ADHD and those who do not. They enhance the effectiveness of the clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviors rather than a person's general performance. These measures can help evaluaters determine if a person is lying or attempting to cheat on a test. This issue has been recognized by experts in the field for many years.
A thorough ADHD evaluation may include an examination of the brain or other neuroimaging tests in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. These tests are not used in clinical settings due to the fact that they cost a lot of money and expose patients to ionizing radioactivity.