ADHD Diagnosis
Adults are 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 to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires and rating scales that give details about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator may ask questions about a person's childhood and family history, and use checklists to note symptoms. The evaluator may also review the person's academic and work documents, and may want to speak with teachers or other people who are close to them.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. The criteria is that the person suffers from multiple symptoms for at least six months, and that the symptoms are present in more than one setting -- for example, at home, school or at work. The evaluator will also look for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or a thyroid problem.
In adults the evaluator will evaluate how severe the symptoms are and how they impact the way that they work or interact with others. The evaluator can also inquire about how they feel about their symptoms and whether they interfere with their daily life.
Many people with ADHD are unable to remember the time when their issues began. A specialist may interview anyone who is familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult or a teacher parent of children. The evaluation expert may use checklists to evaluate adults, as well as a list with the behaviors that children exhibit.
Unlike in the past, the current guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that an adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD in the event that symptoms appeared before the age of 12. This change is meant to prevent people who had ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed with other disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Medical History
If you suspect your child or yourself has ADHD the first step should be to speak with an expert who can perform a thorough evaluation. Contact your doctor or an experienced local mental health specialist for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also contact an adult ADHD support group, as many will have worked with local specialists 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 about how the symptoms affect functioning in different environments, like at home, work, or in relationships. It is essential to determine how severe the symptoms are in light of the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that the symptoms have to cause significant impairment to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will generally interview the person, but they might also request to talk to his or her siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals will ask people to fill out questionnaires or rating scales, which include ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers are often helpful sources of information too.
It is crucial to determine the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in a variety of environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines stipulate that the symptoms must occur frequently and affect performance. This is vital, as other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities could appear similar as ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical examination can be conducted to determine if there are any other possible reasons for the symptoms. These could include thyroid issues and hearing or vision issues, or medication like stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In some cases, a history of ADHD in the family can be a major factor in the determination of the diagnosis. It is a highly inheritable condition, and a thorough examination of the patient's and his or her family members' histories can help establish whether there is a family pattern.
It is crucial for healthcare professionals to get a complete picture of a patient's symptoms, regardless of whether they occur at school, work, or in social situations. A doctor must also determine the extent of how a patient's symptoms affect their daily functioning. This is more important than merely counting symptoms or assessing the IQ of the patient.
A doctor can interview the child or teen and also the parents. In a majority of cases, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is specialized in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a thorough interview is required by a mental health professional who has a wealth of experience in ADHD and takes the time to carefully evaluate each patient's presentation.
A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical examination, which can rule out specific health conditions that may cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also taken. This may include medical and school records as well as a psychologist or school counselor's psychological evaluation. For adults the old school records can be helpful in determining the cause of symptoms that began in childhood.
When diagnosing adults, it is important to take into consideration how symptoms affect daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric evaluation could be required, including scoring scales and questions asked by the caregiver and patient in addition to a clinical interview and referral to a medical examination. Additionally psychometric or neuropsychological assessments is sometimes used for adults to determine how the symptoms are related to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child regarding their issues at home, at school, and in the community. The provider will inquire about your or child's medical, family, and personal history, and will review any records that you may bring, such as old school report cards. This information will assist the doctor to determine if you or your child is eligible to take a test to diagnose 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 a six-month time period which includes both at the school and at home. The rating must be performed by those who are familiar with your or your child's behaviors, such as teachers, religious and Scout leaders, coaches, and parents.
Adults and children who are diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that are debilitating, and interfere with daily functioning whether at school, work or playing. The signs must be evident in the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. They can't be caused by another mental health problem.
The sensitivity and precision of ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ and cognitive performance. They should be used in conjunction with a physician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. These assessments can involve the administration a standardized test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized test method that measures executive functions, short-term memories, and response speed. In the near future, digital technology, such as virtual reality and head movement sensors for continuous performance tests could help improve the ecological validity by giving people the opportunity to immerse into their natural environment instead of sitting in a clinic.
Tests
If your doctor or mental health professional suspects ADHD, he or she may recommend you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough assessment should include an extensive interview, details from other sources, such as your spouse or significant other and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. The evaluator will recommend tests based on the clinical impression to check for conditions that could be causing your symptoms. These include depression or learning disabilities, or a medical illness.
A thorough ADHD assessment requires the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are seriously affecting your functioning and life. The impairment can occur in a variety settings, including your workplace, home or school, as well as social interactions. The evaluator needs to know how your symptoms have impacted you in each situation. This will help the evaluator make a diagnosis and develop treatment recommendations.
A complete assessment will include in addition to rating of symptoms and standardized tests for performance for ADHD. These testing instruments are based on research and compare the behavior of people with ADHD to those without it. These instruments improve on the limitations of a traditional clinical interview because they focus more on specific behaviors rather than an individual's overall performance. These tests can help assessors identify when a person is lying or trying to cheat a test. This issue has been recognized by experts in the field for years.
adhd assessment near me may include a brain scan or other neuroimaging techniques in addition to the normal test and symptom-rating scales. These tests are not utilized in clinical settings because they are costly and expose patients to ionizing radioactivity.