ADHD Diagnosis
Diagnosing ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing ADHD in children. A good diagnosis starts with a consultation with an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It's also beneficial to bring rating scales and interview transcripts that provide information about your symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis is based on a physical exam and an interview with a physician. The evaluator may ask questions about a person's childhood and their family history and use checklists to note 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. Those criteria are that the patient has a variety of symptoms for at least six months, and that the symptoms occur in more than one place -- such as at home, at work or school. The evaluator could also check for other conditions which can cause similar symptoms such as anxiety or depression.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on work or social life. The evaluator will also ask how the individual feels about the symptoms and how they interfere with daily functioning.
Many people with ADHD cannot remember the time when their issues began. A specialist may interview someone who is familiar with the individual, for example, their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult, or a teacher or parent for the child. The assessor may employ checklists for adults, and for children there is a list of behavior to look out for.
In contrast to the past, current diagnostic guidelines stipulate that an adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD in the event that symptoms appeared before age 12. This change is meant to prevent people with ADHD who were diagnosed as children being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Medical Histories
If you suspect your child or yourself may have ADHD, your first step is to seek out an expert who can perform an exhaustive 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 contact an adult ADHD support group, as many will have worked with local specialists who could provide recommendations.
A healthcare professional will go over the medical history of a patient and background information regarding the family during the ADHD diagnostic assessment. They will inquire as to how the symptoms interfere with functioning in various situations, including at home, at work, or in relationships. It is important to determine the severity of the symptoms, since the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms must cause significant impairment to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will interview the patient, but may also seek information from his or her parents or siblings as well as friends who know him. Some healthcare professionals require patients to fill out questionnaires or scales. These include ADHD symptoms checklists and behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can also be valuable sources of information.
It is essential to evaluate how the individual's symptoms affect in a variety of situations, since the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that symptoms must manifest frequently and affect performance. This is essential because other disorders like mood disorders and learning disabilities can present similarly to ADHD (Austerman, 2015). Additionally an exam by a doctor could be conducted to determine other possible causes for the symptoms, such as thyroid issues, vision or hearing problems or the use of certain medications like stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In some cases there is a history of ADHD in the family can be a major factor in the determination of a diagnosis. It is highly genetically inherited, and a thorough review of the patient and their relatives' histories will aid in determining if there is any family-related pattern.
It is important for providers to get a complete picture of a patient's symptoms, regardless of whether they occur at work, school or in social situations. A healthcare professional must also consider the extent to which the patient's symptoms hinder their everyday functioning. This is a better measure than simply calculating symptoms or looking at the intelligence of patients.
For children and teens, a doctor can interview the teen or child and his or her parents. In many cases, a psychiatrist or pediatrician is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health professional with a vast knowledge of ADHD is required to conduct a detailed interview for adults.
A thorough assessment usually includes a physical exam which can rule out certain medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. This can include school and medical records, as along with a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological assessment. School records from the past can be helpful for adults to determine if symptoms started in childhood.
In the case of diagnosing adults in particular, it is crucial to look at how the symptoms interfere with the daily activities. A thorough psychiatric evaluation could be required, which includes ratings scales and questions from caregivers and patients, as well as an interview with a clinician and referral to medical exam. Adults may 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 regarding their issues at home, in school, and in the community. The provider will also inquire about your or your child's previous medical and personal history, as well as family and personal histories and will look over any records that you might bring along including old school report cards. This information will help the doctor to determine whether you or your child should to take tests 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 taken over the course of six months which includes both home and school. The ratings should be given by those who know your child or yourself well, including teachers, coaches as well as Scouts, religious leaders and parents.
Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that are debilitating and interfere with daily functioning whether at school, work or playing. The signs should be evident in childhood, usually before the age of 12. They are not caused by any other mental health condition.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of ADHD assessments. They should be utilized in conjunction with a physician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. These assessments could involve the use of a standardized questionnaire like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or a computer-based adaptive testing method that allows for measurement of responses speed short-term memory, executive functions. In the future, digital technology such as virtual reality for continuous performance tests as well as sensors for head movement may help to improve ecological validity of these ADHD assessment tools by allowing the person being evaluated to be immersed in their natural environment rather than in an office for clinical evaluation.
Tests
Your doctor or mental health care specialist may recommend you to an expert if he or they suspect ADHD. A thorough evaluation should consist of an extensive interview, data from independent sources such as your spouse or significant others, and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. The evaluator will order tests based on the clinical impression to screen for conditions that could affect your symptoms. This includes depression as well as learning disabilities or a medical condition.
In order to conduct an accurate ADHD assessment, the evaluator must determine whether your symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life and function. The impairment can occur in a variety of environments that include your workplace, home or school, and social relationships. The examiner will inquire about how your condition affected you in each circumstance. This will enable the evaluator make a diagnosis, and develop treatment recommendations.
In get assessed for adhd to the symptom ratings The complete assessment will typically include one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These tests are founded on research which compares the behavior of those with ADHD and those without. These instruments enhance the limitations of a standard clinical interview since they focus more on specific behavior rather than an individual's overall performance. These measures can also help assessors determine if an individual is being disingenuous or attempting to cheat on the test this issue has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
In addition to the standardized test and the symptom-rating scales, a thorough ADHD evaluation should include brain scans or other imaging procedures for neurological disorders. However, these tests are not routinely used in a clinical setting due to the cost and expose patients to ionizing radiation.