ADHD Diagnosis
Adults are more difficult to identify than children. A good diagnosis starts with a thorough interview conducted by an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. It's also beneficial to bring rating scales and interviews that provide information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The evaluator might ask questions about a person's family history and childhood, and use checklists to record symptoms. The evaluator may also look over the records of work and school and may want to talk with teachers or other individuals who spend time 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 include that the person must have had several symptoms for atleast six months, and that they occur in multiple settings, like at school and at home. The examiner will also look for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or a thyroid issue.
In adults the evaluator will determine how severe the symptoms are and how they impact work or social life. The evaluator will also inquire about what the person's feelings are about the symptoms and how they affect their daily life.
Many people with ADHD are unable to recall when their problems began. A specialist will often interview anyone who is familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult or a teacher parent of the child. The assessor may employ checklists for adults, and for children there is a list of behavior to watch for.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until the symptoms have been identified before the age of twelve. This change is intended to stop people suffering from ADHD who were diagnosed as children from being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Medical Histories
If you suspect that you or your child suffers from ADHD The first step is to locate an expert who can perform an exhaustive assessment. Consult online adhd assessment uk or a local mental health care expert for recommendations, or look in the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also contact an adult support group with ADHD, as many of them have worked with local experts who can offer referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a medical professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire about how the symptoms affect functioning in different settings such as at work, home or in relationships. It is important to assess how severe the symptoms are because the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD state that the symptoms must result in significant impairment to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will usually interview the person, but they may also ask to talk to his or her siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals require patients to fill out questionnaires or scales. They may also ask for ADHD checklists for symptoms and rating of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can be useful sources of information.
It is crucial to determine the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in various settings, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that symptoms must manifest frequently and affect performance. This is crucial, since other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities may appear similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). In addition medical exams can be performed to check for other possible causes for the symptoms, including thyroid problems, vision and hearing issues, or the use of certain drugs like stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In certain cases there is the family history of ADHD is a major factor in getting a diagnosis. It is a highly heritable condition, and a thorough review of the patient's and relatives histories can help determine whether there is a family pattern.
It is essential that doctors have a complete picture of the symptoms of their patients, which includes whether or not they happen at work, in school or in social situations. A provider should also determine the extent of how symptoms impact a person's daily functioning. This is a more accurate test than simply looking at the number of symptoms or examining the patient's intelligence.
For teens and children, a doctor can interview the teen or child and his or her parents. In many instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct an in-depth interview for adults.
A thorough assessment usually includes a physical exam which can rule out certain health conditions that may cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical record is also a must. For children, this may include medical and school records and an evaluation of psychological health by a school counselor or psychologist. Old school records can be helpful to adults to determine if symptoms started in childhood.
If you are diagnosing an adult, it is especially important to determine if the symptoms affect daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric evaluation is also possible that includes rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and caregivers, a psychotherapy interview and referral for medical examination. In addition psychometric or neuropsychological assessments is often used for adults to determine how the symptoms are linked to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A professional will ask you or your child about their issues at home, school and in the community. The doctor will also inquire about the child's or yours's medical, family and personal history and will look over any records you may bring with you like old school reports. This information will enable the doctor to determine whether you or your child needs 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 usually taken over the course of six months, and cover both school and home. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child and yourself well, including teachers, coaches and Scouts, religious leaders and parents.
To be diagnosed with ADHD adults and children must have symptomatic behavior that is a source of distress and hinders daily functioning in multiple settings, such as at school, at work or playing. The signs should be evident in early childhood, typically before 12 years of age. They cannot be caused by any other mental health issue.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can enhance the sensitivity and specificity of ADHD evaluations. However, they should be utilized as part of an assessment strategy that includes a clinical interview and rating scales. These tests could include the administration of a standard questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or an adaptive test that is computerized 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 and sensors for head movement could help to improve ecological validity of these ADHD assessment tools by giving the person being assessed to be in their surroundings rather than in a clinical office.
Tests
Your GP or a mental health professional could recommend you to a specialist if he or she suspects ADHD. A thorough assessment will consist of an in-depth interview, information from other sources such as your spouse or significant others, and the standardized scales of behavior ratings for ADHD. The evaluator will order tests in accordance with the clinical impression and will screen for any conditions that might affect your symptoms. These include depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
To conduct an exhaustive ADHD evaluation, the assessor must determine if your symptoms affect your daily life and function. It can happen in a variety of environments that include your home, work, school and social relationships. The evaluator needs to know how your symptoms have impacted your life in each of these settings. This will enable the evaluator to establish an assessment, and then formulate treatment recommendations.
A complete assessment will include, in addition to symptoms ratings and standardized tests for performance for ADHD. These instruments for testing are based on research that compares the behavior of people with ADHD to those who do not. These instruments can help overcome the limitations of a standard clinical interview since they focus more on specific behaviors than an individual's overall performance. These measures can assist evaluaters determine if a person is lying or trying to cheat on a test. This problem has been recognized by experts in the field for a long time.
In addition to the standardized test and the symptom-rating scales as well as the symptom rating scales, an extensive ADHD assessment should include brain scans and other imaging procedures for neurological disorders. However these tests aren't often used in a clinic setting due to the cost and expose the patient to radiation.