ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to diagnose than children. A good diagnosis starts with a consultation with an expert in ADHD.
It is recommended to bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It is also beneficial to bring rating scales and interviews which can provide details regarding your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis is based on physical examination and a conversation with a doctor. The evaluator will inquire about the person's life and childhood, and might use checklists to note the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator may also look over school and work records and may also want to speak 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 is that the person suffers from multiple symptoms that last for at least 6 months and that the symptoms are present in more than one location like at home, at school or at work. The evaluator will also be looking for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, for example anxiety, depression, or a thyroid condition.
In adults the evaluator will determine how severe the symptoms are and how they affect the way that they work or interact with others. The evaluator can also ask the person what their feelings are about their symptoms and whether or not they impact their daily life.
Many people with ADHD are unable to remember when their problems began. A specialist will often interview anyone who is familiar with the individual, for example, their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher or parent of the child. The evaluation expert can use checklists to examine adults and a list of behaviors for children.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms begin to manifest before the age of twelve. visit here is meant to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, for example, depression and anxiety.
Medical History
If you suspect that your child or yourself may have ADHD, your first step should be to speak with an expert who will conduct a thorough evaluation. Talk to your doctor or mental health expert in your area for recommendations or look up the phone book by "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also join a support group for adults with ADHD since many of them will have worked with local experts who can provide recommendations.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a medical professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire as to what the symptoms hinder functioning in different settings, such as at home, at work or in relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms because the APA's diagnostic guidelines for ADHD note that the symptoms must cause significant impairment in order to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the patient, however, they may also talk to his or her siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals will ask patients to fill out questionnaires or scales. These include ADHD symptom checklists and ratings of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can be useful sources of information.
It is important to assess the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in a variety of environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that the symptoms must occur frequently and impair performance. This is important, as other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities may appear similar as ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam can also be done to determine if there are any other possible reasons for the symptoms. This could be thyroid issues and hearing or vision issues, or prescription medications such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In some cases there is a history of ADHD within the family may be a significant factor in making the diagnosis. It is a highly heritable condition, and a careful examination of the patient's and his or her family members histories can help determine if there is a familial pattern.
It is essential for health professionals to get a complete picture of the symptoms a patient is experiencing, regardless of whether they occur at work, school or in social situations. A provider must also assess the extent of how a patient's symptoms interfere with everyday functioning. This is a more accurate test than simply looking at the number of symptoms or examining the patient's IQ.
For teenagers and children, a doctor can interview the teen or child and his or her parents. In most instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a thorough interview is required by a mental health professional who has extensive experience with ADHD and takes the time to evaluate each patient's situation.
A thorough assessment usually includes a physical exam, which can rule out specific medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical history is also taken. For children, this can include previous medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of the psychological state by a school counselor or psychologist. For adults documents from school can be helpful in determining whether symptoms began in the early years of life.
When diagnosing adults, it is important to take into consideration how symptoms impact daily life. A thorough psychiatric examination could be required with regard to questionnaires and rating scales for the patient and their caregivers, a clinical interview and a referral to medical examination. Adults can also undergo a neuropsychological or psychometric assessment to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A professional will talk to you or your child about their issues at home, in school, and in the community. The provider will ask about your or child's medical personal, family, and medical history, and will also review any documents you might bring, such as old school report cards. This information will help the provider decide whether 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 period of six months, which includes both at the school and at home. The rating must be performed by those who are familiar with your your child's behaviors like teachers as well as religious and scout leaders, coaches and parents.
To be diagnosed with ADHD children and adults must have symptomatic behavior that is debilitating and hinders everyday functioning in multiple environments, including school, at work or playing. The symptoms should manifest in the early years of childhood, usually before 12 years of age. They can't be caused by another mental health problem.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, cognitive functioning and brain function can improve the accuracy and sensitivity of ADHD evaluations. However, they should be utilized as part of an assessment strategy that includes a clinician interview as well as rating scales. These assessments can include the administration of a standardized test like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults, or a computerized testing method that measures executive functions, short-term memories, and response speed. In the future digital technology, such as virtual reality and head movement sensors for continuous performance tests, can help improve the validity of ecological tests by allowing people to be immersed in their natural surroundings instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
If your GP or mental health professional suspects ADHD they may recommend you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough assessment 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 recommend tests based on the clinical impression to check for any conditions that might be affecting your symptoms. These could include depression as well as learning disabilities or a medical illness.
To conduct an exhaustive ADHD evaluation, the evaluator must determine if the symptoms significantly impact your life and performance. Impairment can be in a variety of environments such as your work, home, school and social relationships. The evaluator will inquire how your condition affected you in each situation. This will allow the evaluator to identify the cause and make treatment recommendations.
A complete assessment will include the symptoms ratings and standardized performance tests for ADHD. These tests are built on research that examines the behavior of those with ADHD and those without. They improve upon the limitations of a clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviours instead of assessing a person's overall functioning. These measures can help assessors determine if the person is not being honest or attempting to cheat on the test this issue has been identified for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
A thorough ADHD evaluation will include an examination of the brain or other neuroimaging techniques in addition to the standard test and symptom rating scales. However, these tests are not routinely used in a clinical setting due to the expense and expose the patient to radiation.