ADHD Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing ADHD in children. A reliable diagnosis begins with a clinical interview by an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires and rating scales that provide details about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The examiner will ask questions about the person's life and childhood, and may employ checklists to note the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator may also look over documents from the workplace and school, and may also want to speak with teachers or others 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 is that the person has several symptoms for at least six months, and that the symptoms manifest in more than one setting -- such as at home and at school or at work. The evaluator will also be looking for other conditions that could trigger similar symptoms, for example depression, anxiety or a thyroid problem.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of symptoms and their impact on social or work life. The evaluator might also inquire about how they feel about their symptoms and if they affect their daily life.
Many people suffering from ADHD are unable to recall when their problems began. A specialist may interview people who are familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult or a teacher or parent for children. The evaluator can use checklists to examine adults, as well as a list with child-related behaviors.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines the adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms begin to manifest before the age of twelve. This change is designed to stop people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, for example, depression or anxiety.
Medical History
If you suspect your child or yourself has ADHD the first step should be to seek out an expert who will perform an exhaustive evaluation. Ask your doctor or a mental health expert in your area for recommendations, or look up the phone book by "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also contact a support group for adults with ADHD since they've worked with local experts who can provide recommendations.
A healthcare professional will go over a person's medical history and family background during the ADHD diagnostic assessment. They will ask what the symptoms hinder functioning in different situations, including at home, at work, or with relationships. It is important to determine the severity of the symptoms, as the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms require significant impairment in order to be considered a diagnosis.
The healthcare professional will typically interview the patient, but they might also request to 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 may include ADHD symptoms checklists and ratings of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers are often useful sources of information too.
The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines state that symptoms should be frequent and affect performance. This is important, as other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities could appear similar as ADHD (Austerman 2015). In addition, a medical exam may be performed to check for other possible causes for the symptoms, such as thyroid issues, vision or hearing issues, or the use of certain drugs, such as stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In some cases there are instances where the family history of ADHD is a crucial aspect in obtaining the diagnosis. It is a highly inheritable condition, and a thorough review of the patient's and relatives history can help determine the presence of a genetic pattern.
It is essential that doctors have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, such as whether or not they happen in school, at work or in social situations. A provider should also determine the extent to which symptoms affect the person's everyday functioning. This is a more accurate test than simply looking at the number of symptoms or looking at a patient's IQ.
A doctor may interview the child or teen as well as the parents. In many instances psychiatrists or pediatricians is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct a thorough interview for adults.
A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical exam which can rule out certain health conditions that can cause similar symptoms to ADHD. A complete medical history is also obtained. For children, this can include previous medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of psychological health by school counselors or psychologists. Old school records can be helpful for adults to determine whether symptoms started in childhood.
If you are diagnosing an adult, it is especially important to determine if the symptoms impact the daily activities. A thorough psychiatric exam is also possible that includes questionnaires and rating scales for the patient and their caregivers, a psychotherapy interview and referral for medical examination. Adults may also undergo a psychometric or neuropsychological test to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child regarding their issues at home, at school and in the community. The provider will inquire about your or child's medical and family history, and will review any records that you may have, like old school report cards. This information will help the provider decide whether you or your child is eligible to undergo a test to determine 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 six-month period, and cover both at school and home. The rating must be performed by those who are familiar with your or your child's behaviors like teachers and religious leaders, scout and Scout leaders, coaches, and parents.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, children and adults must have symptomatic behavior that is a source of distress and hinders everyday functioning in multiple settings, such as at school, work or play. Symptoms must begin in the early years, typically before the age of 12. They are not caused by any other mental health condition.
The sensitivity and precision of ADHD assessments can be enhanced through the use of psychometric and neuropsychological tests that assess IQ and cognitive functioning. They should be utilized alongside a clinician's assessment and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. These assessments can involve the administration of a standard test like the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized testing method that tests executive functions, short-term memories and speed of response. In the near future, technology that is digital, such as virtual reality and head movement sensors for continuous performance tests, could help improve the ecological validity by permitting people to immerse themselves in their natural surroundings instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
Your physician or mental health care professional could refer you to a specialist if he or they suspect ADHD. A complete evaluation will include an extensive interview, data from other sources like your spouse or significant others, as well as standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression the evaluator could also order tests to screen for other conditions that could have an impact on your symptoms, like depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD evaluation is required by the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are significantly affecting your life and performance. Impairment can be in a variety settings that include your home, work or school, as well as social interactions. The examiner will inquire about how your condition affected you in each circumstance. This will allow the evaluator to make an assessment and formulate treatment suggestions.
A comprehensive test will include the rating of symptoms and standardized tests for performance for ADHD. These tests are based on research that compares the behavior of those with ADHD and those without. camhs adhd assessment enhance the effectiveness of a clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviors rather than the overall performance. These tests can also help evaluators identify when an individual is being disingenuous or attempting to cheat on the test, a problem that has been recognized for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
A thorough ADHD assessment includes an examination of the brain or other neuroimaging procedures in addition to the normal test and symptom-rating scales. These tests are not used in clinical settings due to the fact that they are expensive and expose patients to radioactive ionization.