ADHD Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a clinical interview by an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It's also helpful to bring rating scales and interview transcripts that can provide information about your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam 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 document symptoms. The evaluator will also review school and work records and may also want to speak with teachers or other people who spend time 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. The criteria are that the individual must have experienced multiple symptoms for at least six months, and that they occur in multiple settings, for example, at school or at home. The evaluator could also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of symptoms and their impact on work or social life. The evaluator may also inquire about what their feelings are about their symptoms and if they interfere with their daily life.
Many people who have ADHD have trouble remembering whether their problems started in childhood or later. Because of this, the specialist will usually interview someone who is familiar with the person, such as a spouse or sibling for an adult; parents or teachers for children. The evaluator might utilize checklists for adults and for children, a list of behaviors to look out for.
Unlike in the past, the current guidelines for diagnosing ADHD indicate that an adult shouldn't be diagnosed with ADHD in the event that symptoms appeared prior to the age of 12. This change is meant to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, for example, anxiety and depression.
Medical History
If you suspect that your child or yourself suffer from ADHD The first step should be to seek out an expert who will conduct an exhaustive assessment. Talk to your doctor or mental health specialist in your area for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" and "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.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a healthcare professional will review the person's medical and family history. They will inquire about whether the symptoms affect functioning in various settings, such as at home, at work or with relationships. It is essential to determine the severity of the symptoms, as the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that the symptoms must cause significant impairment to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will typically interview the patient, but they might also request to talk to his or her parents, siblings and friends who are familiar with him. adhd assessment cost uk require patients to complete questionnaires or scales. They may also ask for ADHD symptoms checklists and rating of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers are helpful sources of information as well.
It is essential to evaluate how the person's symptoms interfere in a variety of environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that the symptoms must occur frequently and affect performance. This is crucial, since other conditions like mood disorders or learning disabilities may appear similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical examination can be done to determine if there are other possible reasons for the symptoms. These could include thyroid issues as well as hearing or vision issues, or medications like stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In certain cases there are instances where an ancestor's history of ADHD is a crucial factor in getting the diagnosis. It is highly heritable, and a look at the patient and their relatives' histories can aid in determining if there is any familial pattern.
It is important that providers get a complete picture about the symptoms of their patients, such as whether or not they happen at work, in school or in social situations. A physician should also consider the degree to which symptoms affect a person's daily functioning. This is a more accurate test than simply looking at symptom counts or examining the patient's intelligence.
For children and teens, a doctor can interview the child or teen and their parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a detailed interview is required by a mental health specialist who has extensive experience with ADHD and is able to evaluate the individual's symptoms.
A thorough evaluation includes a physical examination, which helps to rule out certain conditions that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical record is also taken. This may include school and medical records as well as a psychologist or school counselor's psychological assessment. The school records of the past can be useful for adults to determine if symptoms began in childhood.
In the case of diagnosing adults with psychiatric disorders, it is particularly important to determine if the symptoms affect daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric exam might be required, including rating scales and questions by the caregiver and patient and caregivers, as well as an interview with a clinician and referral to a medical examination. Adults may also undergo a neuropsychological or psychometric test to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child about their problems at home, school, and in the community. The doctor will also inquire about the child's or yours's medical or personal history, including family and friends and will look over any records that you might bring along like 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 typically taken over a six-month period, and include both the school and at home. The rating must be performed by people who are familiar with your or your child's behaviors like teachers and religious leaders, scout and Scout leaders, coaches, and parents.
Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD are likely to exhibit symptoms that are debilitating, and affect their daily activities, whether at work, school, or play. Symptoms must begin in childhood, typically before age 12. They are not caused by any other mental health disorder.
The sensitivity and accuracy of ADHD assessments can be enhanced through the use of psychometric and neuropsychological tests that assess IQ and cognitive function. However, they should be used as part of an assessment strategy that includes a clinical interview and rating scales. These assessments could involve the use of a standardized questionnaire like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA) or an adaptive test that is computerized that measures the speed of response, short-term memory and executive functions. In the near future, technology that is digital like virtual reality and head motion sensors for continuous performance tests, may help improve ecological validity by allowing people to be immersed in their natural surroundings instead of sitting in a clinic.
Tests
If your GP or mental health professional suspects ADHD the doctor may refer you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough evaluation will consist of a thorough interview, information from other sources, such as your spouse or significant others and the standardized scales of behavior ratings for ADHD. The evaluator will recommend tests in accordance with the clinical impression and will screen for any conditions that might be affecting your symptoms. These could include depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD assessment requires the examiner to determine if your symptoms are seriously affecting your life and performance. The problem can manifest in a variety of settings like at home, at work, in school, or with your social connections. The examiner will inquire about how your symptoms affected you in every situation. This will assist the evaluator determine a diagnosis and formulate treatment recommendations.
A comprehensive test will include the symptoms ratings and standard performance tests for ADHD. These testing instruments are based on research and compare the behavior of people suffering from ADHD with those without. These instruments can help overcome the limitations of a traditional clinical interview because they focus more on specific behaviors rather than an individual's overall functioning. These tests can also help assessors determine if the person is not being honest or attempting to cheat the test which has been recognized for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
In addition to the standardized test and the symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD assessment should include brain scans and other imaging techniques for the brain. These tests are not utilized in clinical settings because they are expensive and expose patients to radioactivity ionizing.