ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to diagnose than children. A clinical interview with an ADHD expert is the first step in obtaining a good diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires or rating scales that give information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator might inquire about a person's family history and childhood and utilize checklists to document symptoms. The evaluator will also go over the records of work and school and may want to talk 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. Those criteria are that the person has several symptoms that last for at least 6 months and that the symptoms occur in more than one setting like at home, at school or at work. The evaluator will also look for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, like anxiety, depression, or a thyroid problem.
Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of symptoms and their impact on their work or social lives. The evaluator might also ask the individual what their feelings are about their symptoms and whether they impact their daily activities.
Many people with ADHD are unable to remember whether their issues began in the early years or later. A specialist will often interview people who are familiar with the individual, for example, their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult or a teacher parent for the child. The evaluator might use checklists to assess adults, as well as a list with the behaviors that children exhibit.
Contrary to the previous guidelines for diagnosing An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until the symptoms have been identified prior to the age of 12. This change is meant to protect people who suffered from ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed with other disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Medical Histories
If you suspect that you or your child suffers from ADHD the first step is to find an expert who can provide a thorough assessment. Ask your personal physician or an experienced local mental health expert for suggestions, or consult the phone book for "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also reach out to a support group for adults with ADHD since many of them have worked with local experts who could offer referrals.
A healthcare professional will go over a person's medical history and family history during the ADHD diagnostic evaluation. They will inquire about how the symptoms interfere with functioning in different environments, like at home, at work, or in relationships. It is essential to determine the severity of the symptoms, as the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms must cause significant impairment to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will talk to the patient, but may also ask for information from parents siblings, friends, and parents who know him. Some professionals ask people to fill out questionnaires or scales. They may also ask for ADHD checklists for symptoms and rating of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers are useful sources of information, too.
It is crucial to determine how the person's symptoms interfere in various situations, since the APA's diagnostic guidelines note that symptoms have to occur frequently and impair performance. This is important, as other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities can present in a similar way to ADHD (Austerman 2015). Additionally medical exams can be conducted to determine other possible causes for the symptoms, including thyroid issues, vision or hearing issues or the use of certain medications such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In some cases there are instances where a family history of ADHD is a key element in determining if you have a diagnosis. It is highly heritable, and a thorough review of the patient's and relatives' histories will aid in determining if there's any pattern of inheritance in the family.
It is crucial that healthcare professionals have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, such as whether or not they are present in school, at work or in social situations. A provider must also assess the extent to which the patient's symptoms affect their daily functioning. more resources is a more accurate measure 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 a majority of cases, a pediatrician psychiatrist is trained to evaluate and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a detailed interview is required by a mental health specialist who has a wealth of experience in ADHD and takes the time to carefully evaluate the individual's symptoms.
A comprehensive evaluation usually includes a physical exam, that can rule out certain health conditions that can cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical record is also a must. For children, this can include previous medical and school records, as well as a psychological evaluation by a school counselor or psychologist. For adults the old school records are often helpful in determining if symptoms started in the early years of life.
When diagnosing adults with psychiatric disorders, it is particularly important to look at how the symptoms interfere with everyday functioning. A thorough psychiatric exam could be required with regard to rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and their caregivers, a clinical interview, and a referral for a medical exam. Adults may also undergo a psychometric or neuropsychological assessment to determine the relationship between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A professional will ask you or your child about their issues at school, home and in the community. The provider will inquire about your child's medical personal, family, and medical background, and will look over any records you bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will enable the provider to decide if you or your child is required to undergo a test 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 typically conducted over the course of six months which includes both home and school. The rating must be performed by people who are familiar with your your child's behavior like teachers as well as religious and Scout leaders, coaches and parents.
Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that are debilitating and affect their daily activities at work, school or playing. The signs must be evident in the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. They are not caused by any other mental health condition.
The sensitivity and precision of ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that measure IQ and cognitive performance. However, they should only be used as part of an assessment process that includes a clinician interview and rating scales. These assessments could include the administration of a standard test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized testing method that measures executive functions, short-term memories and reaction speed. In the near future, technology that is digital like virtual reality and head sensors that monitor head movements for continuous performance tests may help improve ecological validity by giving people the opportunity to immerse in their natural surroundings instead of sitting in a clinic.
Tests
Your doctor or a mental health specialist may refer you to specialists if he/she suspects ADHD. A thorough assessment will consist of an extensive interview, data from other sources such as your spouse or significant others and standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. The evaluator will recommend tests in accordance with the clinical impression to check for any conditions that might affect your symptoms. These could include depression as well as learning disabilities or a medical condition.
In order to conduct an exhaustive ADHD assessment, the evaluator must determine whether your symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life and function. Impairment can be in a variety of settings such as your work, home, school and social relationships. The examiner should inquire about what the impact of your condition has been on you in each situation. This will allow the evaluator to make a diagnosis and develop treatment recommendations.
In addition to the symptom ratings A complete assessment typically includes one or more performance tests that are standard for ADHD. These testing instruments are based on research comparing the behavior of people suffering from ADHD with those without. They enhance the effectiveness of an interview with a clinician by focusing on specific behavior instead of assessing a person's general performance. These measures can aid in identifying when an individual is being disingenuous or is trying 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 and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD evaluation should include brain scans or other imaging techniques for the brain. However, these tests are not routinely used in a clinical setting due to the cost and expose the patient to radiation.