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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It explains why some individuals struggle with staying in control and following directions, or staying focused. Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you an expert. Also make sure to check with your insurance to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults. Diagnosis Process For adults, a proper diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults. Often, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional will be interested in knowing how long it has been a problem and how they impact you. They might suggest that you speak to a close friend or family member about your symptoms. The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines do not permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other individuals who were with you as a child. They may also inquire whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues like depression or anxiety. In some cases, an evaluator may recommend cognitive tests, like IQ testing or tests for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend different types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid disorders. If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD They will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and even psychological or educational tests. The tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals in your body that could be linked to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also check your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a the spirometry test, which evaluates your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances, the evaluator may recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that may have similar symptoms to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are many ADHD quizzes and questionnaires that can act as a screening tool before you schedule an appointment with your doctor. These tests could alert you to the possibility that you may have ADHD, but an interview with a doctor is the only method to confirm the diagnosis. The process could last between 2 and 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about any history of substance abuse or depression as these problems can co-occur along 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 psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to look over the patient's school records as well as talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal insight can reveal details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires. Some doctors are overloaded and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out a full assessment. This could lead doctors to make an incorrect diagnosis. This is a red flag in the event that the physician is not adamant about the criteria to diagnose ADHD. The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluation will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess the patient for ADHD. It's often a relief for some adults to finally be given an ADHD diagnosis. The deep-seated emotions, such as guilt or resentment for not meeting expectations or that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in the life, can be complex. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have severe implications in a variety of areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career, and health. The Tests Finding an ADHD diagnosis is a challenging and complicated process. It requires a lot of paperwork, interviews, and tests. The best way to prepare is to ask for recommendations from friends, family and doctors you trust. Check out the credentials of the specialist and ensure that they are a match for your requirements. It is important to find a doctor who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child receives an accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment. The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluation expert. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms affect you and whether they affect your schoolwork, work or your relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. For instance, you might be asked if it is common to miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt other people. Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to complete questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses or siblings for children. It could be coaches, teachers, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire. The evaluators can also perform cognitive testing to see whether intellectual or learning disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis that is in the beginning. Ongoing might even screen for underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or seizures. Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to gauge the way you react to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test that has been approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The test examines the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators determine the type of ADHD you have whether you are inattentive or impulsive. The Follow-Up Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist or. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are and how long these problems have been happening. The specialist will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% heritable. Genes play an important role in whether your child or you will suffer from symptoms. The specialist will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD affects your daily life such as at work, home and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various situations since ADHD symptoms differ in different situations. In addition, to qualify for an assessment of ADHD, your or your child must exhibit six or more established symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for at least six months. To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out other conditions. Other psychiatric issues, anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, for example thyroid problems, can be considered. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's habits of sleep and any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that could have affected your child or your own brain development. He will also consider whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD may cause side effects such as stomachaches and insomnia. These side effects can be caused by other drugs such as sleep medications, antidepressants, and some sleep aids. The expert will also need to determine if there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child could be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the information and determine a diagnosis.