ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to identify than children. A good diagnosis starts with a thorough interview conducted by an expert in ADHD.
It is recommended to bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It's also helpful to bring ratings scales and interviews which can provide details regarding your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The evaluator will inquire about the person's family and childhood, and may employ checklists to document the person's symptoms. The evaluator may also look over documents from the workplace and school, and may wish to speak 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. The criteria are that the person has experienced multiple symptoms for at least six months, and that they occur in a variety of settings such as at school or at home. The evaluator may also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.
Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on social or work life. The evaluator might also ask the individual how they feel about their symptoms and whether they interfere with their daily life.
Many people who have ADHD struggle to remember if their problems began in the beginning or later. For that reason, an expert will typically interview someone who is familiar with the person like a spouse or sibling for an adult; a parent or teacher for children. The evaluator can use checklists to examine adults as well as a list of the behaviors that children exhibit.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms are present before the age of 12. This change is intended to avoid people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, like depression and anxiety.
Medical History
If you suspect that your or your child is suffering from ADHD the first step is to find an expert who can conduct an extensive assessment. Talk to your doctor or mental health expert in your area for recommendations, or search the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also reach out to an adult support group with ADHD since many of them will have worked with local experts who could provide referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic assessment, a healthcare professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire about the effects of the symptoms on the person's performance in various settings such as at work, at home or in relationships. It is essential to determine the severity of the symptoms as the APA's guidelines for ADHD stipulate that the symptoms must cause significant impairment to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will generally interview the patient, however, they may also talk to his or her siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some professionals ask people to fill out questionnaires or scales. They may also ask for ADHD checklists for symptoms and ratings of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can be helpful sources of information as well.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines stipulate that symptoms must be frequent and impact performance. This is essential due to the fact that other conditions, such as mood disorders and learning disabilities can present similarly to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam may also be done to determine if there are any other possible causes for the symptoms. This could be thyroid issues as well as hearing or vision issues, or medications such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In some instances, an ancestor's history of ADHD is a key element in determining if you have a diagnosis. It is a highly inheritable condition, and a careful examination of the patient's and his or her relatives history can help determine the presence of a genetic pattern.
It is important for providers to have a complete understanding of the patient's symptoms for example, whether they happen at school, work or in social situations. A healthcare professional must also consider the degree to which the patient's symptoms hinder their everyday functioning. This is a more accurate measure than simply calculating symptoms or looking at the IQ of patients.
A doctor may interview a child or teen, as well as the parents. In many cases, 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 is able to evaluate each patient's presentation.
A thorough assessment includes a physical examination which helps to rule out certain conditions that may cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical record is also required. For children, this can include previous medical and school records and an evaluation of psychological health by school counselors or psychologists. The school records of the past can be helpful to adults to determine whether symptoms began in the early years of childhood.
In the case of diagnosing adults, it is especially important to look at how the symptoms interfere with the daily activities. online assessment for adhd may also be necessary with regard to the use of questionnaires and rating scales by the patient and his or her caregivers, a clinical interview and referral for a medical exam. Adults can also undergo a psychometric or neuropsychological assessment to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will ask you or your child questions about their concerns at school, home and in the community. The provider will ask about your child's medical, family, and personal history, and will review any documents you might bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will assist the doctor to decide whether you or your child should take a test for diagnosing 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. The ratings are typically conducted over a period of six months, and include both home and school. The ratings should be given by those who know your child or you well, including coaches, teachers as well as religious leaders, scouts and parents.
Children and adults who are diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that are debilitating and affect their daily activities at work, school or playing. Symptoms should start in early childhood, typically before the age of 12. They cannot be caused by any other mental health issue.
The sensitivity and accuracy of ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that assess IQ and cognitive functioning. They should be utilized in conjunction with a clinician's assessment and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. These assessments may include the administration of a standard questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or an adaptive test that is computerized that measures the speed of response short-term memory, executive functions. In the near future, technology that is digital, such as virtual reality and head motion sensors for continuous performance tests, may help improve ecological validity by giving people the opportunity to immerse in their natural surroundings instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
If your GP or mental health professional suspects ADHD, he or she might refer you to an ADHD specialist. A complete evaluation will include an extensive interview, data from other sources such as your spouse or significant others, as well as standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. The evaluator will conduct tests in accordance with the clinical impression and will screen for any conditions that may be affecting your symptoms. This includes depression or learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD evaluation is required by the evaluator 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, at school, or with your social connections. The examiner should inquire about what your symptoms have affected you in each situation. This will help the evaluator identify the cause and make treatment recommendations.
In addition to the symptom rating A comprehensive assessment usually includes one or more tests that are standardized for ADHD. These tests are founded on research that compares the behavior of people with ADHD and those without. These instruments can help overcome the limitations of a standard clinical interview since they focus more on specific behavior rather than the overall functioning of an individual. These measures can help assessors determine if an individual is lying or is trying to cheat on the test, a problem that has been identified for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
In addition to the standard test and the symptom-rating scales, a thorough ADHD evaluation should include brain scans and other imaging techniques for the brain. However, these tests are not commonly used in a clinical setting due to the cost and expose patients to ionizing radiation.