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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. It explains why some individuals struggle to stay in control, following directions or staying focused. Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Check with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adult patients. Diagnosis Process For adults, a proper diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults. Usually, an initial assessment will start with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine how long it has been a problem and how they affect you. They may ask you to talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms. The evaluation process will also involve 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, your healthcare provider might want to review your school records or talk with teachers or other individuals who knew you as a child. They will also discuss whether you've had any other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety. In certain situations, the evaluator will recommend cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical conditions that may be the cause of your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issues. If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are related to ADHD they will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests will likely include blood and urine tests, a medical examination, and possibly psychological or educational tests. The tests are used to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be related to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You could also receive an spirometry test, which measures lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for functional or structural issues. In some instances, the evaluator may recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are plenty of ADHD tests and questionnaires that can act as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests may help you recognize that you may have ADHD however an interview with a doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis. This process can last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible effects on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about a history or 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. In addition, the clinician will want to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an adult or spouse, a family member could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires. Some doctors rush through this procedure or insist on seeing a patient once rather than completing a complete evaluation. This can lead to misdiagnosis. This is a red flag when the doctor is too rigid about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD. For adults, the evaluator could request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives. The evaluator then compares the ratings to the checklist and evaluates for ADHD. For some adults, it can be a great relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. But the underlying emotions — such as guilt for not meeting expectations, or the grief that the disorder was not recognized until later in life -are often complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can have serious implications in a variety of areas of an individual's life, such as relationships, work, and health. The Tests It can be challenging and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews, as well as tests. The best method to prepare is to ask for recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they're a good match for your needs. It is crucial to find a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment. The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions in order to know more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms impact your daily life and if they affect work, school or relationships. The evaluator can also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. They usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you often forget appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators will 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, nannies or daycare workers. Personal insights can reveal information that is not feasible to collect through a questionnaire. Some evaluators will also perform cognitive testing to see if learning or intellectual disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They can also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder or incipient psychosis. They might also test for underlying conditions such as seizure disorders and hypothyroidism. A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to non-target and target 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 evaluator will examine how often you respond non-target stimuli, and the time it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators determine the type of ADHD you have either Inattentive or impulsive. Follow-up A variety of mental health professionals can offer ADHD evaluations and provide an assessment. This can be a psychiatrist or psychologist or psychologist or neurologist. The specialist will want know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been present for. IamPsychiatry will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% heritable. Genes play a major role in whether your child or you experience symptoms. The professional will want to know how your or your child's ADHD impacts your daily life such as at work, home, and at school. He will ask about your or your child's behavior in different settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different settings. In addition, to be eligible for an assessment of ADHD the parent or child must display six or more established symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for at least six months. To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric conditions, anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities may be included. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, for example thyroid issues, should also be considered. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your child's sleep patterns and any accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your or your child's brain. The doctor will also determine whether the signs of ADHD in you or your children are connected to any health issues or medications that you or your child take. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can sometimes cause side effects, such as stomachaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other drugs, including antidepressants, sleep medications, and some sleep aids. The doctor will also have to determine if there's an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child may have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review the information and then make an assessment.