ADHD Diagnosis
Adults are more difficult to identify than children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a consultation with an expert in ADHD.
Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. It's also beneficial to bring ratings scales and interviews which can provide details about your health issues.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator will ask questions about the person's life and childhood, and might use checklists to record the person's symptoms. The evaluator will also go over school and work records and may want to talk 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. online assessment for adhd include that the patient has a variety of symptoms for at least six months, and that the symptoms occur in more than one location -- such as at home and at school or at work. The evaluator will also look for other ailments that can cause similar symptoms, like depression, anxiety or a thyroid problem.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on work or social life. The evaluator may also ask the individual how they feel about their symptoms and if they affect their daily activities.
Many people with ADHD cannot remember the exact date they began experiencing problems. A specialist may interview anyone who is familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult or a teacher or parent for children. The examiner might use checklists to assess adults and a list of behaviors for children.
Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until the symptoms have been identified before the age of 12. This change is meant to prevent people with ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, like depression and anxiety.
Medical History
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. Contact your doctor or an experienced local mental health expert for recommendations, or search the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also join an adult ADHD support group, since many will have worked with local specialists who can offer referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a healthcare professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will ask about the effects of the symptoms on functioning in different settings such as at home, work, or in relationships. It is essential to determine the severity of the symptoms, as the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms require significant impairment in order to be classified as ADHD.
The healthcare professional will typically interview the person, but they might also request to talk to parents, siblings, and other family members who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals will ask patients to fill out questionnaires or scales. These may include ADHD checklists for symptoms and rating of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can also be important sources of information.
It is important to assess the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in various environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that the symptoms must occur often and cause impairment to performance. This is vital, as other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities can appear similar as ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam may also be conducted to determine if there are other possible causes of the symptoms. This could be thyroid issues as well as hearing or vision issues, or medication like stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In certain instances, a history of ADHD in the family can be a major factor the determination of a diagnosis. It is highly heritable, and a thorough review of the patient's and their relatives' histories will aid in determining if there's any family-related pattern.
It is important that providers have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, including whether or not they are present at work, in school, or social situations. A provider must also assess the degree of how a patient's symptoms interfere with everyday functioning. This is a more accurate test than simply looking at the number of symptoms or examining the patient's IQ.
A doctor may interview teens or children, and also their parents. In many cases, a psychiatrist or pediatrician is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health professional who has extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct a detailed interview for adults.
A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical examination, that can rule out certain medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. For children, this can include medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of the psychological state by a school counselor or psychologist. For adults, old school records can be helpful in determining the cause of symptoms that began in childhood.
When diagnosing adults, it is crucial to look at how the symptoms impact daily life. A thorough psychiatric evaluation could be required, involving rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and caregivers, a clinical interview and referral for medical examination. Adults can also undergo a neuropsychological or psychometric assessment to determine the relationship between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A provider will ask you or your child about their issues at home, at school and in the community. The provider will also ask about your or your child's past medical and personal history, as well as family and personal histories and will review any documents that you might bring along, such as old school report cards. This information will help the provider decide if you or your child should take a test to diagnose 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 a period of six months and cover both home and school. The ratings should be given by people who know your child or you well, including teachers, coaches, Scouts, religious leaders and parents.
Adults and children who are diagnosed with ADHD are likely to exhibit symptoms that are debilitating, and affect their daily activities whether at school, work, or play. Symptoms should start in early childhood, typically before 12 years of age. They cannot be caused by any other mental health disorder.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, cognitive functioning and brain function can increase the accuracy and precision of ADHD assessments. However, they should be used as part of an assessment plan that includes a clinician interview and rating scales. These assessments can include the administration a standardized test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults, or a computerized testing method that measures executive functions, short-term memories, and response speed. In the future digital technology, such as virtual reality for continuous performance tests as well as head movement sensors may aid in improving the ecological validity of these ADHD assessment tools by permitting the person being evaluated to be immersed in their environment rather than sitting in a clinical office.
Tests
Your doctor or a mental health professional may recommend you to an expert if he or she suspects ADHD. A thorough evaluation will consist of a thorough interview, information from other sources like your spouse or significant others, as well as the standardized scales of behavior ratings for ADHD. Based on the clinical impression, the evaluator may also request tests to check for other conditions that may affect your symptoms, like depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
To conduct an accurate ADHD evaluation, the evaluator must determine if your symptoms significantly impact your life and performance. It can happen in a variety of environments such as your workplace, home or school, as well as social interactions. The evaluator should ask how your symptoms have impacted you in each setting. This will allow the evaluator to identify the cause and make treatment recommendations.
A complete assessment will include, in addition to symptom ratings and standardized tests for performance for ADHD. These tests are based on research and compare the behavior of people with ADHD to those who do not. These instruments can help overcome the limitations of a traditional clinical interview because they focus more on specific behaviors rather than an individual's overall functioning. These measures can also help assessors determine if the person is not being honest or trying to cheat on the test, a problem that has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
A thorough ADHD evaluation includes a brain scan or other neuroimaging techniques in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. However, these tests are not routinely used in a clinical setting because they are expensive and expose the patient to radiation.