ADHD Diagnosis
Diagnosing ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing ADHD in children. An interview with a clinical ADHD expert is the first step to a good diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires or rating scales that give information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator will inquire about the person's life and childhood, and may use checklists to document the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator will also review the records of work and school and may wish to speak with teachers or others who are close to the person.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. These criteria include that the person suffers from multiple symptoms for at least 6 months and that the symptoms are present in more than one location -- such as at home, at school or at work. The evaluator could also check for other conditions which can cause similar symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on work or social life. The evaluator can also inquire about how they feel about their symptoms and if they affect their daily life.
Many people with ADHD cannot remember when their problems began. A specialist will typically interview people who are familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult, or a teacher or parent for children. The evaluator might use checklists for adults, and for children there is a list of behavior to be on the lookout for.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms are present before the age of 12. This change is meant to stop people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, for example, depression and anxiety.
Medical History
If you suspect that your child or yourself may have ADHD The first step should be to speak with an expert who will perform an extensive assessment. Consult your physician or an experienced local mental health expert for recommendations, or look in the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to an adult support group with ADHD because many of them will have worked with local experts who are able to offer referrals.
A healthcare professional will look over the medical history of a patient and family history during the ADHD diagnostic evaluation. They will inquire about how the symptoms interfere with functioning in various environments, like at home, at work or in relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms as the APA's guidelines on ADHD state that symptoms must cause significant impairment in order to be considered a diagnosis.
The healthcare professional will speak with the patient, but they may also seek information from parents, siblings, and friends who are familiar with him. Some professionals will have people complete questionnaires or ratings scales, including ADHD symptoms checklists as well as standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can also be valuable sources of information.
It is crucial to determine how the person's symptoms interfere in various settings, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines stipulate that symptoms must manifest often and cause impairment to performance. This is essential because other disorders like mood disorders and learning disabilities, can present similarly to ADHD (Austerman, 2015). A medical exam may also be conducted to determine if there are other possible reasons for the symptoms. These include thyroid problems and hearing or vision issues, or medications such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In certain instances the presence of ADHD in the family can be a major factor in the determination of a diagnosis. It is a hereditary condition, and a thorough review of the patient's and relatives histories can help determine the presence of a genetic pattern.
It is important that providers have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, which includes whether or not they occur in school, at work or in social settings. A provider must also assess the degree of how a patient's symptoms hinder their everyday functioning. This is more important than simply calculating symptoms or assessing the level of intelligence of a patient.
A doctor may interview a child or teen, and also his or her parents. In a majority of cases, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is trained to evaluate and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a detailed interview is required by a mental health specialist who has extensive experience with ADHD and has the time to evaluate each patient's situation.
A thorough evaluation includes a physical exam, which can help determine certain conditions that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical history is also a must. This could include medical and school documents as well as a psychologist or school counselor's psychological assessment. The school records of the past can be helpful for adults to determine if symptoms began in the early years of childhood.
When diagnosing adults, it is especially important to look at how the symptoms interfere with the daily activities. click to find out more could be required that includes rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and caregivers, a clinical interview, and a referral for a medical exam. Adults may also undergo a neuropsychological or psychometric test to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child regarding their issues at home, at school and in the community. The provider will also inquire about the child's or yours's medical, family and personal history and will review any records you may bring with you including old school reports. This information will allow the doctor to determine whether you or your child is required to take tests 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 typically taken over a period of six months, and include both home and school. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child and yourself well, such as coaches, teachers, religious leaders, scouts, and parents.
To be diagnosed with ADHD adults and children must exhibit a symptomatic behavior that is debilitating and interferes with daily functioning in multiple situations, like at school, at work or playing. The symptoms must manifest in childhood, typically before age 12. They aren't caused by a mental health issue.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests to measure IQ, cognitive functioning and brain function can enhance the sensitivity and specificity of ADHD evaluations. Click To See More should be used in conjunction with a clinician's assessment and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment strategy. These assessments may include the administration of a standard questionnaire like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or a computerized adaptive testing approach that measures the speed of response, short-term memory and executive functions. In the near future digital technology, such as virtual reality for continuous performance tests as well as sensors for head movement could help to improve ecological validity of these ADHD assessment tools by giving the person being assessed to be immersed in their surroundings rather than in an office for clinical evaluation.
Tests
Your physician or mental health specialist may refer you to an expert if he or she suspects ADHD. A thorough assessment 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 conduct tests in accordance with the clinical impression and will screen for any conditions that might be affecting your symptoms. These could include depression, learning disabilities, or a medical illness.
A thorough ADHD evaluation requires the examiner to determine if your symptoms are significantly impairing your life and functioning. Impairment can be in a variety of settings, including your work, home or school, as well as social interactions. The evaluator will inquire how your symptoms affected you in each circumstance. This will allow the evaluator make an assessment and formulate treatment suggestions.
A complete assessment will include, in addition to symptom ratings and standardized performance tests for ADHD. These tests are based on research and compare the behavior of people with ADHD to those without it. They enhance the effectiveness of an interview with a clinician by focusing on specific behavior rather than the general performance. These measures can help assessors determine if an individual is being disingenuous or is trying to cheat on the test this issue has been identified for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
A thorough ADHD assessment may include a brain scan or other neuroimaging tests in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. These tests are not utilized in clinical settings due to the fact that they are expensive and expose patients to ionizing radioactivity.