ADHD Assessment For Adults - What to Expect You can receive an appointment from your primary care physician or an adult support group with ADHD to a health care professional that is certified to conduct these tests. You can also search your health insurance company's online directory for specialists. Typically, an assessment takes between one and three hours. The assessment begins with a detailed discussion about your family's history, work and personal life. What to Expect If you are concerned that you or someone in your family could be suffering from ADHD It is essential to first take the first step and visit a doctor. Your GP can talk with you about your symptoms, inquire about your family history and inquire about any other conditions that you may have but they are not allowed to diagnose ADHD themselves. Instead, they'll need to refer you to a mental health specialist, typically a psychologist, to conduct an ADHD assessment. The initial assessment can take several hours. During the interview the clinician will ask you a series of standard questions regarding your behavior in the present and in the past. The clinician will also ask you about your past and current relationships. The interview will determine whether you meet the ADHD criteria as defined in the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association. To be able to be diagnosed as having ADHD You will need prove that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at minimum two settings in your daily life. This could be at the workplace, at home or in your social life. Examples of impairment could include being unable to maintain working, having a difficult time maintaining a healthy relationship, or getting into financial difficulties due to impulsive purchases. Depending on the situation, your physician will also likely carry out some psychological or neuropsychological testing. These tests are not able to diagnose ADHD but they can provide valuable information about how ADHD impacts your life. These tests can also be used to rule out other comorbidities like anxiety and depression. Prior to or during the examination your doctor will need to perform a physical exam and take a medical history. This will allow them to determine if there are any other medical conditions that may cause symptoms, such as thyroid or seizure disorders. They will also need to be aware of any previous medical or psychiatric diagnosis you've had because some of them could look a lot like ADHD and could be misdiagnosed. During the Evaluation An interview with a mental healthcare professional can include questionnaires that the patient must complete. It may also involve an interview with a family member or significant other. This is helpful since the person might not realize how often their symptoms can cause problems for others. It can also help the evaluator determine any comorbid mental health conditions that require to be addressed by a treatment. Adults may find it difficult to be diagnosed with ADHD especially if they are older and have a lot of responsibility. However, getting a diagnosis as an adult is not only feasible, but can significantly improve your life quality. A diagnosis will help you understand that hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity do not occur caused by a lack of effort or personal shortcomings, but rather an illness of the brain. Your child or you may need to exhibit symptomatic behaviors in at least two environments (home, school, and work) that cause major impairment. These symptoms must be present in early childhood and cannot be explained by other disorder. As part of the evaluation process an examination of the body is typically recommended. Some medical conditions (such seizures and thyroid issues) disorders) may cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. A physical exam can help the examiner to rule out other illnesses that could be responsible for the symptoms. https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/private-adult-adhd-assessments/ will look over the patient's medical and psychological history as well as the symptoms they're experiencing. They will also discuss the person's current life circumstances and evaluate how the symptoms affect their daily life. It is often beneficial for the evaluator talk to those who know the patient well, such as family members or colleagues. The examiner will use the criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to establish a diagnosis. They will ask the patient to describe their symptoms in detail and how they impact their functioning. They will also look at whether there are any mental health conditions that require treatment for example, depression or anxiety. Follow-up After the ADHD assessment is completed the treatment plan can be developed. Most often, this will comprise both medication and psychotherapy. It can take some time to determine the correct dosage of medication or to see the results of therapy. The most important thing you can do is to keep on the course of treatment. It is important to be honest and open with your psychiatrist during the one-on-one sessions. This will help ensure that you receive the highest quality treatment possible. You will be asked to fill in the pre-screening questionnaire prior to meeting with the psychiatrist. They are available on your portal dashboard. Please fill them in before your appointment. This will help to reduce the length of your consultation and ensure that your evaluator can meet with you as quickly as possible. The examiner will conduct an examination of the body and examine your medical history during the first in-person session. Based on the individual, this may also involve an eye and hearing screening. This is done to rule out medical causes of the symptoms. The next major step is an in-depth interview that can last anywhere from one to three hours. This is a chance for the patient to discuss their issues in detail with the evaluator, and discuss how they affect their daily activities. The evaluator may ask questions on a variety of subjects including relationships, work and school, sleep patterns, and eating habits. The evaluator may also wish to interview those who are close to the patient, like their spouses, parents or siblings teachers, coaches, and daycare providers. This information is not accessible from self-reporting questionnaires. It can help the evaluator to confirm the presence of ADHD and determine the degree of the impairment it causes to functioning. The evaluator will then conduct an examination that will look at various areas that are that are affected by the disorder, including inattention, restlessness, as well as impulse control. The examiner may also inquire about the symptoms in various situations and under various stressors. ADHD can manifest differently in different circumstances. After the Evaluation The doctor will note down your symptoms when you describe your symptoms and respond to questions. The assessment can take up to three hours and may include multiple meetings or questionnaires. You will be asked some medical information including your family history of health problems and your current medications. This will help the evaluator to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms due to something else. You may be asked to fill out ADHD ratings scales or behavioral tests. The evaluator can also conduct physical examinations and examine your medical history. It is crucial to rule out other medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms, like seizures or thyroid disorders. The evaluater will also talk to people who know you well, including teachers and coworkers. These interviews will help the evaluator better understanding of the impact of your symptoms on your school or work. It is important to be open and honest about your symptoms and how they impact you and other people. After the evaluator has collected all of this information after which they will create a report for you. They will discuss their findings and outline a possible diagnosis. If they decide that you have ADHD they will speak to you about ongoing support and treatment. If they don't discover that you suffer from ADHD they will discuss other psychiatric issues and suggest ways to help. The process of obtaining an ADHD evaluation can be challenging and a bit scary, especially when you're an adult. It can be especially difficult if you've been denied a previous diagnosis because doctors have preconceived assumptions about what ADHD appears and sounds like. It's never too late to take an ADHD assessment. If you have struggled for a long time the diagnosis could give you the confidence and knowledge that you should seek treatment. It can also help to build stronger relationships with your family members. You can find more information about the symptoms and signs of ADHD on our website. You can also download an informational letter from ADHD UK to present to your GP.