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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. It explains why some people struggle to stay focused in their work, following directions or staying focused. Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to a specialist. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults. The Diagnosis Process For adults, a correct diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist, psychologist or specialist nurse. These are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD among adults. A detailed interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is often the first step in a preliminary assessment. The healthcare professional will want to know how long your symptoms have been present and how they affect you. They might also suggest that you speak to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood. Since current guidelines do not permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder's presence in childhood, your healthcare provider might want to review your school records or talk with teachers or other people who were with you as a child. They may also inquire if you've had any other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests such as IQ testing or assessments for learning or memory problems. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out physical issues that may be causing your symptoms. If your healthcare professional is sure that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and perhaps educational or psychological testing. The tests are used to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be associated with ADHD like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also test your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be offered a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They may also suggest an imaging scan of your brain to determine if there are any structural or functional abnormalities. In certain instances the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD such as depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are a variety of ADHD tests and questionnaires which can serve as a screening tool before you schedule an appointment with a doctor. These tests may alert you to the possibility that you suffer from ADHD however a doctor's clinical interview is the only method to confirm the diagnosis. The process can last from about 2 to 3 hours. It includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about addiction to drugs or depression since these issues can co-occur 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 doctor will want to review the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be interviewed. The personal perspective of a person can provide details that are not available through questionnaires. Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, rather than conducting an entire evaluation. This can cause to a doctor making a wrong diagnosis. This is a red-flag if the clinician is too rigid about the criteria to diagnose ADHD. For adults, the evaluator may request the patient to fill out scores for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how the symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator will then compare the scores with the checklist and determine if they are a good indicator the patient for ADHD. For some adults, it can be a relief to finally be diagnosed with ADHD. But the underlying emotions -like guilt for not meeting expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life -are often complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and lack of focus. These traits can have serious consequences in many areas, including relationships as well as careers and health. The Tests It can be difficult and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It involves a lot of paperwork, interviews and tests. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from family, friends and doctors you are confident with. You should also research the specialist and their credentials to make sure they're a good match to your requirements. It is important to locate a specialist that specializes in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment. An interview with an evaluater is the initial step in an ADHD evaluation. The evaluator may ask you or your child questions in order to know more about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms affect your life and if they impact work, school or relationships. The evaluator may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you to answer a series of questions. how to get diagnosed with adhd as an adult ADHD Diagnosis might be asked whether you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators will also ask those who know you or your child well to fill in questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior. Adults could be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children may be asked to fill out questionnaires from coaches, teachers, daycare workers, or nannies. Personal experience can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a survey. Some evaluators may also perform cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder or incipient psychosis. They may also screen 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 computer-based test that has been approved by the FDA that measures your ability to pay close attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The examiner will assess how often you react to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to react to the stimuli you are targeting. This can help evaluators determine whether you have impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD. Follow-up Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can be a psychologist or psychiatrist, neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The specialist will want know what your concerns are and how long they have been recurring for. He will also ask whether there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70-80 percent heritable. Genes play a major influence on whether your child or you will experience symptoms. He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at school, home and at work. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior across various environments, since the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different environments. In addition, to qualify for an assessment of ADHD you or your child must display at least six distinct signs of inattention or hyperactivity and the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months. To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they will need to exclude other conditions. Other psychiatric conditions, anxiety and mood disorders, and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, such as thyroid issues, may be a possibility. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns as well as any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your child's brain. He will also take into consideration whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are connected to any other health conditions or medications that you or your child takes. For instance, stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD can sometimes result in side effects like stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, like antidepressants and certain sleep medications, can also have these side effects. The specialist will also need to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child may have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review all of the information and come up with a diagnosis.