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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life changing experience. It explains why some individuals struggle with staying focused and following directions, or staying focused. Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults. Diagnosis Process For adults, a proper diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare experts who can diagnose ADHD in adults. A thorough interview with your health and symptoms is usually the first step in an initial assessment. The healthcare professional will also want to know how long your symptoms have been present and how they impact you. They may ask you to speak with a close friend or family member about your symptoms. The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. Because current guidelines do not permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder's presence in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other people who knew you as a kid. They may also inquire if you have had any other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. In certain situations the evaluator may suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or tests for memory or learning problems. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms. If your doctor is sure that your symptoms are caused by ADHD They may suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests and a medical exam and possibly educational or psychological testing. The tests are designed to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be related to ADHD like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you the spirometry test which evaluates the capacity of your lungs. They may also recommend an imaging scan of the brain to check for any functional or structural problems. In certain instances your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be evaluated for any conditions that have similar symptoms to ADHD, like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are a variety of ADHD questions and quizzes which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests could alert you to the possibility that you have ADHD however the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis. The process can take between 2 to 3 hours. It involves explaining to the patient about ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about any history of depression or substance abuse as these problems can co-occur along with ADHD. A good diagnostic interview will involve a discussion of the patient's symptoms and their impact, and the psychologist or psychiatrist will use a checklist designed to evaluate hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness. In addition, the clinician will want to review school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they could also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires. Some doctors are overloaded and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient only one time, rather than carrying out an entire assessment. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. If the clinician is too firmly rooted in the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and stipulates that a patient must display more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis, that's an indication of trouble. The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and assess the severity of ADHD. For some adults, it could be a relief to finally receive a diagnosis of ADHD. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or resentment for not living up to expectations or that the disorder was not recognized until later in life, may be complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that are typical of ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career and health. The Tests It can be challenging and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork, interviews, and tests. You can prepare by getting recommendations from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. You should also research the specialist and their credentials to ensure they're a good match to your needs. It is important to find a doctor who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment. The first step in an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions in order to know more about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how the symptoms affect your life and if they impact school, work or relationships. The evaluator can also use ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. They usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. You might be asked whether you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators also solicit those who know you or your child well to fill out questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses and siblings and for children, it might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insight can provide information that isn't feasible to collect from a questionnaire. A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether intellectual or learning disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders like bipolar disorder or depression, incipient psychosis or substance abuse. They could also test for underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or seizures. Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay close attention and retain a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you respond to non-targeted stimuli, and how long it takes you to react to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from an impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD. Follow-up Several kinds of mental health professionals can provide ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. This could be a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist or. The doctor will ask you what your concerns are and how long the issues have been occurring for. how to get diagnosed with adhd as an adult I Am Psychiatry will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is about 70% to 80 percent hereditary and that genetics play a significant role in determining whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms. He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at school, home and at work. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various situations because ADHD symptoms vary in different settings. In addition, to qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must exhibit six or more documented signs of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning for at least six months. To determine the correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to rule other conditions out. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed such as anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or yourself's sleep habits and any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that may have impacted your child's or your brain's development. He will also take into consideration whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are linked to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child is taking. For instance, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause side effects such as stomachaches and insomnia. These side effects can also be caused by other medications like sleep medications, antidepressants and certain sleep aids. Finally, the doctor will need to determine if a comorbidity is present which means that your child or you has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will look over the information and make a diagnosis.