Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why people have issues such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized. Ask your family doctor or therapy provider to refer you an expert. Also be sure to check with your insurance to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults. Diagnosis Process For adults, a proper diagnosis will require an assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who can diagnose ADHD in adults. A typical initial evaluation will start with a thorough interview about your life and symptoms. The healthcare professional will be interested in knowing how long it has been present and how they affect you. They may ask you to speak with a close family member or friend about your symptoms. The evaluation process will also involve questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder was present in the early years of childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to look over your school records and talk to those who knew you when you were in your early years. They may also inquire if you've had any other mental health problems like depression or anxiety. In certain situations, the evaluator will recommend cognitive tests for example, IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms. If your healthcare provider is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests could include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and perhaps educational or psychological testing. Tests are conducted to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, for example serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which will measure the capacity of your lungs. They may also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In some cases your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be evaluated for conditions that share similar symptoms with ADHD, like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are many ADHD questions and quizzes that can act as a screening tool before you make an appointment with a physician. These tests can provide you with the information that you have ADHD, but a doctor's clinical interview is the only way to confirm the diagnosis. The process could last between 2 and 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. It may also include the doctor seeking out a history of depression or abuse of substances because these issues can co-occur with ADHD. A good diagnostic interview will involve a discussion of the patient's symptoms and their impact, and the psychologist or psychiatrist will use a checklist designed to evaluate hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness. The clinician will also want to examine the student's school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. The personal perspective of a person can provide details that are not available through questionnaires. Some doctors rush through this process or insist on seeing a patient one time instead of conducting a thorough assessment. This can lead doctors to make an incorrect diagnosis. If the clinician is too rigid about the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and insists that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis, that's a red flag. For adults, the evaluator may request that the patient complete scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how the symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator then compares the ratings to the checklist and evaluates for ADHD. It can be a relief for some adults to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or grief for not meeting expectations or the fact that the disorder was not recognized until later in the life, can be a bit complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of a person's life, including relationships, career, and health. The Tests Getting an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and confusing process. It requires lots of paperwork, interviews and tests. You can prepare by getting recommendations from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. Check out the credentials of the specialist and ensure that they are a match for your requirements. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the best treatment. An interview with an evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how your symptoms affect your life and if they affect school, work or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. You may be asked if you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt other people. Many evaluators also ask those who know your child or you to complete questionnaires on what they have observed. Adults could be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children may be asked to complete questionnaires from coaches, teachers, daycare workers, or the nannies. Personal experience can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire. A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They could also test for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and seizure disorders. Certain evaluators will offer your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention to detail and retain a variety of geometric shapes. https://www.adhddiagnosis.top/ will assess how often you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes to respond to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators determine which subtype of ADHD you are either impulsive or inattentive. The Follow-Up A variety of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD assessments and provide an assessment. This could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been happening. The doctor will also inquire whether there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genetics play a significant role in whether your child or you will experience symptoms. He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at school, home, and work. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in different situations since ADHD symptoms vary in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child require at least six or more signs of hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that interferes with everyday functioning. The symptoms must last for at least six months. To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out other conditions. These could include other psychiatric disorders including anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your child's brain. The doctor will also examine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your children or yourself are caused by any health condition or medications you or your child take. Side effects of stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants as well as some sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects. Finally, the expert will be required to determine if a comorbidity present, which means that your child or you has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder, depression anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will examine all of the information and determine a diagnosis.