ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to diagnose than children. A clinical interview with an ADHD expert is the first step to a good diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. It's also helpful to bring ratings scales and interviews which can provide details about your health issues.
Symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis is based on a physical exam and a conversation with a physician. The examiner will ask questions about the person's family history and childhood, and might use checklists to record the person's symptoms. The evaluator will also review school and work records 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. The criteria are that the person must have had several symptoms for atleast six months and that they occur in a variety of settings for example, at school and at home. get assessed for adhd will also be looking for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, like anxiety, depression or a thyroid problem.
Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of symptoms and their impact on social or work life. The evaluator will also ask how the individual feels about his or her symptoms and how much they affect their daily life.
Many people with ADHD are unable to remember whether their problems started in the beginning or later. This is why the specialist will usually interview someone who is familiar with the person, such as a spouse or sibling for an adult; an educator or parent for a child. The evaluation expert might use checklists to assess adults, as well as a list with behaviors for children.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines the adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms are present before the age of twelve. This change is designed to protect people who suffered from ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed with other disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Medical Histories
If you suspect that your child or yourself may have ADHD the first step is to seek out an expert who will perform an extensive 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 contact an adult support group with ADHD because many of them will have worked with local experts who can provide referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a medical professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire as to whether the symptoms affect functioning in various situations, including at home, at work or in relationships. It is important to determine the severity of the symptoms, since the APA's guidelines for ADHD stipulate that the symptoms must cause significant impairment to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the patient, but they might also request to talk to his or her siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals require patients to complete questionnaires or scales. These include ADHD checklists for symptoms and ratings of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can also be important sources of information.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines stipulate that symptoms must be frequent and affect performance. This is crucial due to the fact that other conditions like mood disorders and learning disabilities, may present similar to ADHD (Austerman, 2015). In addition, a medical exam may be performed to identify other causes that could be causing the symptoms, like thyroid problems, vision and hearing issues, or the use of certain drugs, such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In certain instances, a history of ADHD in the family can be a significant factor in determining the diagnosis. It is highly genetically inherited, and a look at the patient's and their relatives' histories will help determine if there is any pattern of inheritance in the family.
It is important for providers to be able to see the full picture of the symptoms a patient is experiencing, including whether they occur at school, work, or in social situations. A physician should also consider the degree to which symptoms interfere with a person's daily functioning. This is a better measure than simply counting symptoms or assessing the level of intelligence of a patient.
A doctor may interview the child or teen and also his or her parents. In a majority of instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a thorough interview is required by a mental health specialist who has a wealth of experience in ADHD and is able to examine the individual's symptoms.
A comprehensive evaluation usually includes a physical exam, which can rule out specific health conditions that can cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. This could include school and medical records, as in addition to a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological assessment. For adults documents from school are often useful in establishing the cause of symptoms that began in childhood.
When diagnosing adults it is important to consider how symptoms impact daily life. A thorough psychiatric examination could be required, involving rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and his or her caregivers, a clinical interview and a referral to medical examination. Adults may also undergo a neuropsychological or psychometric assessment to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A professional will ask you or your child about their concerns at school, home and in the community. The doctor will also inquire about the child's or yours's medical or personal history, including family and friends and will look over any records you bring along including old report cards from school. This information will allow the doctor to determine if 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 usually taken over the course of six months, which includes both at home and in school. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child or yourself well, including teachers, coaches, Scouts, religious leaders and parents.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, children and adults must exhibit a symptomatic behavior that is a source of distress and hinders daily functioning in multiple situations, like at school, work or play. The signs should be evident in childhood, usually before the age of 12. They aren't caused by a mental health problem.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that measure IQ, brain function and cognitive functioning can enhance the accuracy and precision of ADHD evaluations. However, they should only be used as part of an assessment strategy that includes a clinician interview as well as rating scales. These assessments can involve the administration a standardized test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized testing method that tests executive functions, short-term memories and speed of response. In the future digital technology like virtual reality and head motion sensors for continuous performance tests, may help improve ecological validity by giving people the opportunity to immerse into their natural environment instead of sitting in a clinic.
Tests
Your GP or a mental health specialist may recommend you to a specialist if he or she suspects ADHD. A complete evaluation should include an extensive interview, details from other sources, such as your spouse or significant other and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression the evaluator might conduct tests to test for other conditions that could have an impact on your symptoms, including depression, learning disabilities or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD evaluation is required by the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are seriously affecting your life and functioning. The impairment can occur in a variety of settings, such as at home at work, at school, or with your social relationships. The evaluator should ask how your symptoms have impacted you in each situation. This will allow the evaluator to make a diagnosis, and develop treatment recommendations.
In addition to the symptom ratings The complete assessment will typically include one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These tests are based on research that compares the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those who don't. These instruments can help overcome the limitations of a traditional clinical interview because they focus more on specific behavior rather than an individual's overall performance. These measures can also help assessors determine if the person is not being honest or trying to cheat the test this issue has been recognized for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
In addition to the standard test and the symptom-rating scales and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD assessment should include brain scans or other imaging procedures for neurological disorders. However these tests aren't routinely used in a clinical setting due to the expense and expose the patient to ionizing radiation.