Getting an ADHD Diagnosis

A diagnosis of ADHD can change your life. It explains why some individuals struggle to stay focused and following directions, or staying focused.

Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to an expert. Check with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adult patients.

Diagnosis Process

For adults, a valid diagnosis will require an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare providers who are able to determine the presence of ADHD in adults.

An in-depth interview about your health and symptoms is usually the first step in a preliminary assessment. The healthcare professional will also want to know how long your symptoms have been present and how they affect your daily life. They might suggest that you talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms.

The evaluation process may also include questions about your childhood. Because current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder being present in childhood, your healthcare provider might want to review your school records or talk to teachers or other people who knew you as a kid. They'll also ask if you have experienced any other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

In some cases, an evaluator may suggest cognitive tests, such as IQ tests or tests for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical ailments that could be causing your symptoms.

If your healthcare provider is sure that your symptoms are due to ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to verify and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and even psychological or educational testing.

Tests are used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They may also recommend an imaging scan of your brain to look for functional or structural issues. In certain instances the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.

The Interview

There are a variety of ADHD tests and questionnaires which can serve as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with a physician. These tests could alert you to the possibility that you suffer from ADHD however the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.

The process can last from 2 to 3 hours and includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could influence their symptoms. The clinician may also ask about any history of addiction to drugs or depression since 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. The doctor will also want to review the student's school records and discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family member could also be questioned. Personal insight can provide details that are not available through questionnaires.

Some doctors are in a rush and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting an extensive evaluation. This could lead to a misdiagnosis. This is a red-flag in the event that the physician is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.

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 the symptoms have affected his or her life. The evaluator will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess the severity of ADHD.

It's often a relief for some adults to be given an ADHD diagnosis. The sub-conscious emotions, like guilt or sadness for not meeting expectations or that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life, may be complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and lack of concentration. These characteristics can have negative consequences in a variety of fields, including relationships work, health, and careers.

The Tests

It can be difficult and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot paperwork, interviews, and tests. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the physician and their credentials to ensure they're a good fit for your needs. It is essential to find a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child receives an accurate assessment and the best treatment possible.



The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms impact your life and if they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For example, you might be asked if you frequently miss appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.

Many evaluators also ask people who are familiar with you or your child to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed. For adults, this could be spouses or children; for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can provide information that isn't possible to obtain through a questionnaire.

The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disabilities are contributing factors to your symptoms. They can also test for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or depression, or incipient psychosis. They may also screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism or seizure disorders.

Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to gauge the way you react to target and nontarget stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test that has been approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and retain a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you respond to non-target stimuli, and the length of time it takes you to respond to the target stimuli. This will help the evaluators identify which subtype of ADHD you are: Inattentive or impulsive.

The Follow-Up

A variety of mental health professionals can provide ADHD evaluations and make an assessment. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, a psychotherapist or neurologist. The doctor will want to be aware of your concerns and how long they have been occurring. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70% to 80 percent inheritable and that genes are a major factor in determining whether you or your child will have symptoms.

He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, at school and at work. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in different situations since ADHD symptoms vary in different settings. To be eligible for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must display at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity or inattention and an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for at least six months.

To help the specialist make an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out other conditions. These could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above, mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. In addition, the specialist will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns as well as any previous injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain.

He will also look into whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health condition or medications that you or your child are taking. The side effects of stimulant medication such as those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches as well as difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants as well as some sleep medications may also cause these side effects.

Finally, the doctor will determine if a comorbidity is present which means that you or your child is suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder. https://blogfreely.net/pastorlook0/what-is-everyone-talking-about-diagnosis-adhd-right-now or psychiatrist will review all of the information and make the diagnosis.