ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to identify than children. A consultation with an ADHD expert is the first step towards an accurate diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. You can also bring questionnaires and rating scales that provide information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis requires a physical exam and a conversation with a medical professional. The evaluator will inquire about the person's family history and childhood, and may use checklists to note the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator can also look over the person's academic and work records, and may also want to speak with teachers or others who spend time with them.
The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. Those criteria are that the person suffers from multiple symptoms for at least six months and that the symptoms manifest in more than one setting -- for example, at home, at work or school. The examiner will also look for other ailments that could trigger similar symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, or a thyroid issue.
In adults the evaluator will evaluate how severe the symptoms are and how they affect the way that they work or interact with others. The evaluator will also ask what the person's feelings are about their symptoms and how they affect their daily life.
Many people suffering from ADHD cannot remember the time when their issues began. A specialist may interview anyone who is familiar with the individual, for example, their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher or parent for children. The evaluator might employ checklists for adults, and for children, a list of behaviors to be on the lookout for.
In contrast to the past, the current diagnostic guidelines stipulate that an adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD in the event that symptoms appeared before the age of 12. This change is intended to prevent people with ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being wrongly diagnosed as having other disorders, for example, depression and anxiety.
Medical History
If you suspect that your or your child has ADHD, the first step is to locate an expert who can perform an exhaustive evaluation. Contact your doctor or an area mental health professional for suggestions, or consult the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to an adult ADHD support group, as many will have worked with local specialists who could provide recommendations.
A healthcare professional will review the person's medical history as well as background information regarding the family during the ADHD diagnostic evaluation. They will inquire about what the symptoms hinder functioning in different settings, such as at home, at work, or in relationships. It is important to assess the severity of the symptoms because the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD state that the symptoms must result in significant impairment to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will interview the patient, but they may request details from the patient's parents or siblings as well as friends who know him. Some healthcare professionals will ask people to complete questionnaires or ratings scales, which include ADHD symptom checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can also be important sources of information.
It is essential to evaluate the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in various settings, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines note that symptoms have to occur often and cause impairment to performance. This is crucial, since other conditions like mood disorders or learning disabilities may be similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). Additionally medical exams can be conducted to determine other possible causes of the symptoms, like thyroid issues, vision or hearing issues, or the use of certain drugs such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In certain cases, a history of ADHD within the family may be a major factor making a diagnosis. It is highly inherited and a thorough review of the patient and their relatives' histories will aid in determining if there's any family-related pattern.
It is important for providers to have a complete understanding of the patient's symptoms for example, whether they happen at work, school or in social settings. what is an adhd assessment should also be able to determine the degree to which symptoms interfere with a person's daily functioning. This is a more reliable measure than simply looking at symptom counts or examining a patient's IQ.
A doctor can interview teens or children, as well as his or her parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with a vast knowledge of ADHD is required to conduct an in-depth interview for adults.
A thorough assessment includes a physical examination, which helps to rule out certain conditions that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. For children, this can include medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of psychological health by school counselors or psychologists. For adults the old school records can be helpful in determining if symptoms started in the early years of life.
When diagnosing adults, it is crucial to look at how the symptoms affect your daily life. A thorough psychiatric evaluation might be required, which includes ratings scales and questions from the caregiver and patient, as well as an interview with a clinician and referral to a medical examination. Adults can also undergo a neuropsychological or psychometric assessment to determine the relationship between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will ask you or your child about their problems at home, school and in the community. The provider will ask 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 enable the provider to decide if you or your child should to undergo an assessment 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 six-month period, which includes both at the school and at home. The ratings should be given by those who know your child or yourself well, including teachers, coaches, religious leaders, scouts, 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. The signs must be evident in the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. They can't be caused by another mental health issue.
The sensitivity and accuracy of ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ and cognitive functioning. They should be utilized alongside a clinician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. These assessments can include 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 response speed. In the near future, technology that is digital, such as virtual reality and head movement sensors for continuous performance tests, may help improve ecological validity by allowing people to be immersed in their natural surroundings instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
If your doctor or mental healthcare professional suspects ADHD they might refer you to an ADHD specialist. A complete evaluation should include a comprehensive interview, information from independent sources like your spouse or significant other and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. The evaluator will conduct tests according to the clinical impression and will screen for conditions that could be affecting your symptoms. These include depression, learning disabilities, or a medical illness.
In order to conduct a thorough ADHD assessment, the evaluator must determine if the symptoms affect your life and performance. The impairment can occur in a variety of settings that include your workplace, home, school and social relationships. The evaluator will inquire how your condition affected you in each situation. This will assist the evaluator make a diagnosis and develop treatment recommendations.
A complete assessment will include, in addition to symptom ratings and standard performance tests for ADHD. These tests are founded on research which compares the behavior of those with ADHD and those who don't. They can improve the limitations of an interview with a clinician by focusing on specific behaviors rather than the overall performance. These measures can assist evaluators detect when an individual is lying or trying to cheat on a test. This problem has been recognized in the field for a long time.
A thorough ADHD assessment will include the brain scan or other neuroimaging procedures in addition to the standard test and symptom rating scales. These tests are not used in clinical settings because they are expensive and expose patients to radioactivity ionizing.