ADHD Diagnosis
Adults are more difficult to diagnose than children. A good diagnosis starts with a clinical interview by an expert in ADHD.
It is recommended to bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You can also bring questionnaires or rating scales that give information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis is based on a physical exam and an interview with a physician. The evaluator may ask questions about the person's childhood and their family history and use checklists to document symptoms. The evaluator will also go over the records of work and school and may also want to speak with teachers or others who spend time 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. These criteria include that the person suffers from multiple symptoms for at least 6 months and that the symptoms occur in more than one place -- for example, at home, work or school. The evaluator could also check for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms such as anxiety or depression.
In adults, the evaluator will assess how severe the symptoms are and how they affect the way that they work or interact with others. The evaluation will also inquire what the person's feelings are about their symptoms and how they affect their daily life.
Many people who suffer from ADHD struggle to remember if their issues began in childhood or later. 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 of children. The evaluation expert may use checklists to evaluate adults and a list of the behaviors that children exhibit.
Contrary to the past, current diagnostic guidelines indicate that an adult shouldn't be diagnosed with ADHD in the event that symptoms appeared before the age of 12. This change is intended to stop people who experienced ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed with other disorders such as depression or anxiety.
assessments for adhd
If you suspect that your or your child suffers from ADHD the first step is to locate an expert who can conduct a thorough evaluation. Consult your physician or an experienced local mental health expert for recommendations, or search the phone book for "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also join an adult ADHD support group, since many of them have worked with local specialists who are able to provide recommendations.
During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a healthcare professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will ask whether the symptoms affect functioning in various settings, such as at home, at work or with relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms as the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms require significant impairment in order to be considered a diagnosis.
The healthcare professional will speak with the patient, but may request information from parents or siblings as well as friends who know him. Some professionals will have people fill out questionnaires or rating scales, such as ADHD symptom checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers are helpful sources of information as well.
It is essential to evaluate how the individual's symptoms affect in various settings, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines note that the symptoms must occur often and cause impairment to performance. This is vital, as other conditions like mood disorders or learning disabilities could be similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical examination can be done to determine if there are other possible causes of the symptoms. These include thyroid problems as well as hearing or vision issues, or medications such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In certain instances, a history of ADHD within the family may be a significant factor in determining the diagnosis. It is a hereditary condition, and a thorough study of the patient's as well as his or her family members histories can help determine if there is a familial pattern.
It is essential for health professionals to have a complete understanding of the patient's symptoms regardless of whether they occur at work, school, or in social situations. A provider should also determine the extent to which symptoms interfere with the patient's daily activities. This is a more accurate measure than simply counting symptoms or looking at the level of intelligence of a patient.
For teenagers and children, a doctor can interview the child or teen as well as their parents. In a majority of instances, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is trained to evaluate and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with a vast knowledge of ADHD is required to conduct an in-depth interview for adults.
A comprehensive evaluation usually includes a physical exam which can rule out specific medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical history is also required. This could include school and medical records, as well as a psychologist or school counselor's psychological evaluation. The school records of the past can be useful for adults to determine whether symptoms started in childhood.
When diagnosing adults, it is important to take into consideration how symptoms affect your daily life. A thorough psychiatric examination could be required with regard to questionnaires and rating scales for the patient and their caregivers, a medical interview, and a referral for medical examination. Adults may also undergo a psychometric or neuropsychological assessment to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will ask you or your child questions about their problems at home, at school and in the community. The provider will also inquire about your or your child's past medical or personal history, including family and friends and will review any documents you may bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will enable the doctor to determine whether you or your child needs to undergo an assessment for 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 taken over a period of six months, and cover both home and school. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child or you well, such as coaches, teachers, religious leaders, scouts and parents.
Adults and children who are diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that are debilitating and can hinder their daily functioning whether at work, school or playing. The signs should be evident in childhood, usually before the age of 12. They are not caused by any other mental health issue.
The sensitivity and precision of ADHD evaluations can be improved by using neuropsychological and psychometric tests that measure IQ and cognitive function. They should be utilized in conjunction with a clinician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment strategy. These assessments may include the use of a standardized questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA) or a computer-based adaptive testing method that allows for measurement of the speed of response, short-term memory and executive functions. In the future digital technology, such as virtual reality for continuous performance tests and head movement sensors may enhance the ecological reliability of these ADHD assessment tools by allowing the person being evaluated to be in their surroundings rather than in an office for clinical evaluation.
Tests
Your GP or a mental health specialist may recommend you to a specialist if he or she suspects ADHD. A complete evaluation will include an extensive interview, data from other sources such as your spouse or significant others and standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression, the evaluator may conduct tests to test for any other conditions that could affect your symptoms, such as depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
To conduct an exhaustive ADHD evaluation, the assessor must determine if the symptoms significantly impact your life and functioning. It can happen in a variety of environments that include 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 enable the evaluator make an assessment, and then formulate treatment suggestions.
In addition to the symptom rating A complete assessment typically includes one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These tests are based on research that compares the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those without. These instruments improve on the limitations of a standard clinical interview by focusing more on specific behaviors rather than an individual's overall performance. These measures can also help evaluators identify when an individual is being disingenuous or trying to cheat on the test this issue has been identified for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing.
A thorough ADHD evaluation includes the brain scan or other neuroimaging procedures in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. However these tests aren't often used in a clinic setting due to the expense and expose the patient to radiation.