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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It explains why some individuals struggle with staying organized, following directions or staying focused. Ask your family physician or therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also, inquire with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults. Diagnosis Process A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse will be required to assess adults in order to determine the correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare providers who are able to determine the presence of ADHD in adults. A typical initial evaluation will begin with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional could also ask how long you have had symptoms and how they impact you. They may ask you to talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluating you will include questions regarding your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without any evidence that the disorder existed during childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and talk to people who knew you when you were a child. They will also discuss whether you have experienced any other mental health problems like anxiety or depression. In some cases the evaluator may recommend cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning problems. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out physical conditions which could cause your symptoms. If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are due to ADHD, they will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests could include blood and urine testing and a medical exam and perhaps educational or psychological tests. The tests are used to determine the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be associated with ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also assess your blood pressure and heart rate. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which evaluates the lung capacity of your. They may also suggest a brain imaging scan to determine if there are any functional or structural problems. In some cases, your evaluator might suggest that you or your child be tested for conditions that share similar symptoms to ADHD, like depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are many ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use as a screening tool, before making an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD, but the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to consult an experienced medical professional who conducts a thorough interview and does not rush into prescribing medications. This process can take 2 to 3 hours and includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. It could also involve the doctor seeking out a history of substance abuse or depression since these conditions are often co-occurring 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. Additionally, the therapist will be required to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be interviewed. Personal insight can reveal details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires. Some doctors are in a rush and skip this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient only once, rather than conducting a full evaluation. This could lead doctors to make an incorrect diagnosis. If the doctor is too rigid about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and insists that a patient must display more than six symptoms in order to be diagnosed, that's an indication of trouble. For adults, the evaluator might request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how those symptoms have impacted his or her life. The evaluator then compares the scores to the checklist and assesses for ADHD. It can be a relief for some adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions — such as guilt for not meeting expectations, or the grief that the disorder was not recognized until later in life -it can be a challenge. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and a lack of focus. These traits can lead to negative consequences in a variety of fields including relationships as well as careers and health. The Tests It can be a challenge and confusing to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to seek recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the physician and their professional credentials to make sure they're a good match to your requirements. It is essential to find a doctor who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This is to ensure that you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best treatment possible. An interview with an evaluator is the first step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms affect your life and whether they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator could also employ ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. They usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you to answer a series of questions. You may be asked if you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators also request those who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. Adults may be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children might be asked to fill out questionnaires from coaches, teachers, daycare workers, or parents. Personal insights can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a questionnaire. Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental impairments are contributing factors to your symptoms. They could also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They might even screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or seizure disorders. Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine the way you react to target and nontarget stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test that has been approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you respond to non-target stimuli, as well as how long it takes you to react to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluaters determine which subtype of ADHD you have: Inattentive or impulsive. Follow-up Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This could be psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The specialist will want to be aware of your concerns and how long they have been recurring for. The specialist will also ask whether there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80% heritable. Genes play a major factor in determining if your child or you will suffer from symptoms. The specialist will be interested in knowing how your or your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various environments since ADHD symptoms differ in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child require six or more symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning. This must last at minimum for six months. To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he will need to rule out other conditions. These may include other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. Additionally, the doctor will inquire about your child's sleep patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your child's brain. He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child is taking. Side effects of stimulant medications, such as those used to treat ADHD, can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. how to diagnose adults with adhd ADHD Diagnosis , such as antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these side effects. Finally, the expert will need to determine if a comorbidity is present, which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder, depression anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the information and come up with a diagnosis.