ADHD Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing children. An interview with a clinical ADHD expert is the first step towards a good diagnosis.
You should bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires or rating scales that provide details about your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis requires a physical exam and a conversation with a doctor. The evaluator will ask questions about the person's family and childhood, and may use checklists to note the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator will also review the records of work and school and may want to talk with teachers or other individuals who interact with the person.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. These criteria include that the person has several symptoms for at least 6 months, and that the symptoms occur in more than one place -- such as at home and at work or school. The evaluator could also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like depression or anxiety.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on social or work life. The evaluator can also ask the individual what their feelings are about their symptoms and whether they interfere with their daily functioning.
Many people with ADHD have trouble remembering whether their issues began in the early years or later. A specialist will often interview people who are familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher parent for the child. book adhd assessment may use checklists to evaluate adults and a list of child-related behaviors.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until the symptoms have been identified before the age of 12. This change is designed to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, for example, anxiety and depression.
Medical Histories
If you suspect that your or your child suffers from ADHD the first step is to find an expert who can conduct an exhaustive evaluation. Contact your doctor or a local mental health care professional for suggestions, or consult the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to a support group for adults with ADHD since they've worked with local experts who are able to offer referrals.
A healthcare professional will go over the person's medical history as well as family history during the ADHD diagnostic assessment. They will ask how the symptoms interfere with functioning in various environments, like at home, at work, or in relationships. It is important to determine the severity of the symptoms, as the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms have to cause significant impairment to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the patient, but they might also request to talk to his or her parents, siblings and friends who know him well. Some healthcare professionals may ask patients to complete questionnaires or ratings scales, which include ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers are helpful sources of information as well.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines stipulate that symptoms must be frequent and impact performance. This is crucial, since other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities could present in a similar way as ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam can also be performed 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 certain instances the presence of ADHD in the family can be a major factor determining a diagnosis. It is highly genetically inherited, and a review of the patient's and relatives' histories will aid in determining if there is any familial pattern.
It is important that providers have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, including whether or not they occur at work, in school or in social situations. A doctor must also determine the degree of how a patient's symptoms hinder their everyday functioning. This is a more reliable measure than simply looking at the number of symptoms or examining a patient's IQ.
For children and teens doctors may conduct an interview with the child or teen as well as his or her parents. In many cases, a pediatrician psychiatrist is trained to evaluate 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 is able to examine each patient's situation.
A thorough assessment usually includes a physical exam which can rule out specific health conditions that may cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also taken. This can include medical and school records, as in addition to a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological evaluation. For adults, old school records are often helpful in determining whether symptoms began in the early years of life.
In the case of diagnosing adults, it is especially important to examine how the symptoms impact daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric evaluation is also possible, involving rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and his or her caregivers, a psychotherapy interview, and a referral for a medical exam. Additionally assessment of neuropsychological or psychometric factors is sometimes used for adults to determine how the symptoms are linked to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will ask you or your child questions regarding their concerns at school, home and in the community. The provider will also ask about the child's or yours's medical, family and personal history and will review any documents you may bring with you including old report cards from school. This information will help the provider determine if you or your child should undergo a test to determine 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, and include both school and home. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child or you well, including teachers, coaches as well as Scouts, religious leaders and parents.
Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that are debilitating and can hinder their daily functioning, whether at school, work or playing. The signs must be evident in the early years of the early years, typically before the age of 12. They cannot be caused by any other mental health disorder.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, cognitive functioning and brain function can increase the accuracy and sensitivity of ADHD evaluations. They should be used alongside a clinician's assessment and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment strategy. These assessments can involve the administration a standardized test like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized testing method that tests executive functions, short-term memories and reaction speed. In the near future the use of digital technology like virtual reality for continuous performance tests as well as head movement sensors may help to improve ecological validity of these ADHD assessment tools by allowing the person being evaluated to be immersed in their environment instead of sitting in a clinical office.
Tests
Your GP or mental health care professional may refer you to specialists if he/she suspects ADHD. A complete evaluation should include an extensive interview, details from independent sources like your spouse or significant other, and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression the evaluator might also request tests to check for any other conditions that could affect your symptoms, such as depression, learning disabilities or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD assessment requires the examiner to determine if your symptoms are significantly affecting your functioning and life. It can happen in a variety of environments, including your work, home, school and social relationships. The examiner should inquire about how your symptoms have impacted your life in each of these settings. This will help the evaluator identify the cause and make treatment recommendations.
In book adhd assessment to the symptom ratings The comprehensive assessment usually includes one or more tests that are standardized for ADHD. These tests are built on research that examines the behavior of people with ADHD and those who do not. They improve upon the limitations of a clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviors rather than a person's general performance. These measures can assist evaluators detect when an individual is lying or trying to cheat a test. This problem has been recognized by experts in the field for a long time.
A thorough ADHD evaluation will include an examination of the brain or other neuroimaging tests in addition to the standard test and symptom rating scales. These tests are not used in clinical settings since they cost a lot of money and expose patients to ionizing radioactivity.