ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to identify than children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a consultation with an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. It's also helpful to bring ratings scales and interviews that provide information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The examiner may ask questions about a person's family history and childhood, and use checklists to note symptoms. The evaluator will also review documents from the workplace and school, and may want to talk with teachers or other individuals who are close to the person.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. The criteria are that the person has experienced multiple symptoms for at least six months and that they occur in a variety of settings for example, at school and at home. The examiner will also be looking for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or a thyroid issue.
In adults the evaluator will evaluate how severe the symptoms are and how they impact social or work life. The evaluator might also ask the person how they feel about their symptoms and whether or not they interfere with their daily functioning.
Many people suffering from ADHD are unable to remember when their problems began. A specialist will typically interview anyone who is familiar with the person, like their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult, or a teacher or parent of a child. The evaluator might use checklists for adults, and for children there is a list of behavior to be on the lookout for.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms are present before the age of twelve. how to get an adhd assessment uk is designed to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being wrongly diagnosed as having other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
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 extensive evaluation. Ask your personal physician or an experienced local mental health professional for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to an adult support group with ADHD because many of them have worked with local experts who can provide referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic assessment, a healthcare professional will review the person's medical and family history. They will inquire as to how the symptoms interfere with functioning in different environments, like at home, at work or in relationships. It is essential to determine how severe the symptoms are, as the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD state that the symptoms must result in significant impairment for the diagnosis to be made.
The healthcare professional will interview the patient, but may also ask for information from parents, siblings, and friends who know him. Some healthcare professionals will ask people to complete questionnaires or ratings scales, such as ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can be valuable sources of information.
It is crucial to determine the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in a variety of situations, since the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that symptoms have to occur frequently and impair performance. This is vital, as other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities can be similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam can also be performed to determine if there are any other possible causes of the symptoms. These include thyroid problems and hearing or vision issues, or medication like stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In certain instances the presence of ADHD in the family can be a major factor determining a diagnosis. It is a highly inheritable condition, and a careful study of the patient's as well as relatives histories can help determine the presence of a genetic pattern.
It is crucial for healthcare professionals to get a complete picture of the patient's symptoms regardless of whether they occur at school, work or in social settings. A provider must also assess the extent of how a patient's symptoms interfere with everyday functioning. This is more important than merely counting symptoms or examining the intelligence of the patient.
For children and teens, a doctor can interview the child or teen and their parents. In many instances, a psychiatrist or pediatrician is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a detailed interview is required by a mental health professional who has a wealth of experience in ADHD and takes the time to examine each patient's situation.
A thorough assessment includes a physical exam, which can help determine certain conditions that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical record is also a must. For children, this can include previous medical and school records and a psychological evaluation by school counselors or psychologists. The school records of the past can be helpful for adults to determine if symptoms started in childhood.
In the case of diagnosing adults in particular, it is crucial to look at how the symptoms interfere with daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric exam might be required, which may include ratings scales and questions from caregivers and patients in addition to a clinical interview and referral to 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 their problems at home, school and in the community. The provider will also ask about your or your child's previous medical or personal history, including family and friends and will review any records you bring along like old report cards from school. This information will allow the provider to decide if you or your child needs to undergo a test 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 usually taken over a period of six months which includes both school and home. The ratings should be provided by those who know your child or yourself well, including teachers, coaches and religious leaders, scouts, and parents.
Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that are debilitating and interfere with daily functioning at work, school, or play. Symptoms should start in early childhood, typically before 12 years of age. They can't be caused by another mental health problem.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that measure IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can improve the accuracy and sensitivity of ADHD assessments. However, they should be used as part of an assessment plan that includes a clinical interview and rating scales. These assessments could involve the administration of a standard questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or a computerized adaptive testing approach that allows for measurement of the speed of response, short-term memory and executive functions. In the near future, technology that is digital, such as virtual reality and head motion sensors for continuous performance tests can help improve the validity of ecological tests by permitting people to immerse themselves into their surroundings instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
If your physician or mental healthcare professional suspects ADHD the doctor may recommend you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough assessment should include an extensive interview, data from other sources, such as your spouse or significant other and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. Based on the clinical findings the evaluator could conduct tests to test for other conditions that could influence your symptoms, such as depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD assessment requires the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are significantly affecting your life and functioning. The problem can manifest in a variety of settings such as at home at work, at school, or even in your social interactions. The evaluator needs to know how your symptoms have impacted you in each situation. This will enable the evaluator make a diagnosis, and develop treatment recommendations.
In addition to the symptom ratings, a comprehensive assessment usually includes one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These tests are based on research that examines the behavior of people with ADHD and those who don't. They improve upon the limitations of a clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviors rather than a person's general performance. These tests can also help assessors determine if an individual is lying or trying to cheat the test this issue has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
In addition to the standardized test and symptom rating scales and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD evaluation should include brain scans and other imaging procedures for neurological disorders. However, these tests are not commonly used in a clinical setting because they are expensive and expose the patient to radiation.