ADHD Diagnosis
Diagnosing ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing ADHD in children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a consultation with an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires and rating scales that provide details about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator may inquire about a person's family history and childhood, and use checklists to note symptoms. The evaluator can also look over the person's academic and work records, and may also want to speak 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. These criteria include that the person has several symptoms for at least 6 months and that the symptoms are present in more than one place like at home, work or school. The evaluator may also check for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.
In adults the evaluator will evaluate how severe the symptoms are and how they affect social or work life. The evaluator can also inquire about how they feel about their symptoms and whether they impact their daily activities.
Many people suffering from ADHD cannot remember when their problems began. Because of this, an expert will typically interview someone who is familiar with the person for example, a spouse or sibling for an adult; an educator or parent for the child. The examiner may use checklists for adults, and for children there is a list of behavior to look out for.
In contrast to the past, the current diagnostic guidelines stipulate that an adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD unless symptoms were present before the age of 12. This change is designed to prevent people who had ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed with other disorders like anxiety or depression.
Medical History
If you suspect that you or your child is suffering from ADHD, the first step is to find an expert who can provide an exhaustive assessment. Ask your personal physician or a local mental health care professional for suggestions, or consult the phone book for "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to a support group for adults with ADHD since many of them will have worked with local experts who can offer referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic assessment, a healthcare professional will review the person's medical and family history. They will inquire about how the symptoms interfere with functioning in various environments, like at home, at work or with relationships. It is crucial to determine how severe the symptoms are, as the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD note that the symptoms have to cause significant impairment in order to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the patient, however, they might also request to talk to his or her parents, siblings and friends who know him well. Some healthcare professionals may ask patients to complete questionnaires or fill out rating scales, such as ADHD symptoms checklists as well as standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can be important sources of information.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines stipulate that symptoms must be frequent and affect performance. This is crucial, since other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities may present in a similar way to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical examination can be conducted to determine if there are other possible causes of the symptoms. These could include thyroid issues as well as hearing or vision issues, or prescription medications such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In some cases the presence of ADHD in the family can be a significant factor in making the diagnosis. It is a highly inheritable condition, and a careful study of the patient's as well as his or her relatives histories can help determine the presence of a genetic pattern.
It is important for providers to be able to see the full picture of the patient's symptoms regardless of whether they occur at work, school or in social settings. A doctor must also determine the extent of how a patient's symptoms affect their daily functioning. book adhd assessment is a more accurate measure than simply looking at the number of symptoms or looking at the patient's IQ.
A doctor may interview the child or teen and also his or her parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health professional with a vast knowledge of ADHD is required to conduct a detailed interview for adults.
A comprehensive evaluation usually includes a physical examination, that can rule out certain health conditions that may cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. For children, this may include prior medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of psychological health by school counselors or psychologists. School records from the past can be helpful for adults to determine whether symptoms began in childhood.
In the case of diagnosing adults, it's important to take into consideration how symptoms affect your daily life. A thorough psychiatric exam could be required with regard to rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and their caregivers, a psychotherapy interview and 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 provider will interview you or your child about problems at home, school and in the community. The provider will also inquire about the child's or yours's medical and personal history, as well as family and personal histories and will look over any records that you might bring along, such as old school report cards. This information will enable the doctor to determine if you or your child is required to take 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 typically taken over the course of six months, and include both at home and in school. The evaluations must be conducted by those who are familiar with your your child's behaviors, such as teachers and religious leaders, scout and Scout leaders, coaches and parents.
Adults and children who are diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that are debilitating, and interfere with daily functioning at school, work, or play. The signs should be evident in early childhood, typically before the age of 12. They aren't caused by a mental health problem.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can improve the accuracy and sensitivity of ADHD assessments. They should be utilized in conjunction with a clinician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment strategy. These assessments could include the administration a standardized test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized test method that tests executive functions, short-term memory and speed of response. 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 allowing people to be immersed in their natural surroundings instead of sitting in a clinic.
Tests
If your physician or mental healthcare professional suspects ADHD, he or she may recommend you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough assessment will consist of an extensive interview, data from other sources like your spouse or significant others, and standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. The evaluator will order tests according to the clinical impression and will screen for any conditions that may be affecting your symptoms. These could include depression, learning disabilities, or a medical illness.
In order to conduct a thorough ADHD evaluation, the assessor must determine whether your symptoms have a significant impact on your life and functioning. Impairment can be in a variety settings that include your home, work or school, and social relationships. The evaluator will ask you how your symptoms affected you in each situation. This will enable the evaluator to establish a diagnosis, and develop treatment suggestions.
A complete assessment will include in addition to symptoms ratings and standardized performance tests for ADHD. These tests are based on research comparing the behavior of those with ADHD to those without it. They enhance the effectiveness of the clinical interview by focusing on specific behavior rather than a person's overall functioning. These tests can also help evaluators identify when the person is not being honest or trying to cheat on the test, a problem that has been identified for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
A thorough ADHD evaluation includes the brain scan or other neuroimaging procedures in addition to the standard test and symptom rating scales. However, these tests are not commonly used in a clinical setting due to the cost and expose the patient to radiation.