How to Get a Confirmed ADHD Diagnosis
It's not as easy as taking online tests or using a rating scale. The process includes a medical and psychological evaluation.
Doctors look over family and medical history, including past tests and old school records. They also speak with parents as well as teachers and children about their symptoms. ADHD symptoms are typically seen within families.
Symptoms
ADHD is diagnosed when a person has difficulty to stay on task and pay attention to the details or begin and complete tasks that require concentration. Many suffer from other disorders, such as anxiety or depression, that may cause similar symptoms. That's why a clear diagnosis is so important. A thorough evaluation can determine if symptoms are due to ADHD or another disorder.
A psychologist, psychiatrist or neurologist that has experience with ADHD in adults or has a background in adult ADHD can conduct an evaluation. They will ask the person questions and discuss the symptoms. They will also discuss how severe they are and how long it has been since they first started and how often they happen. They will ask about the person's medical and family history, their work and school experience, as well as their family.
It is crucial that a doctor is aware of any issues a patient might be facing, like relationship or financial problems. The doctor may also want to speak to the person's employer or teacher about any issues they've encountered with the person's performance in the classroom or at work. For children doctors, they will interview the parents and may need to interview other adults such as coaches, teachers or parents.
During the exam, the provider will take the patient's medical history and do an examination. The physical exam is used to identify conditions such as thyroid disorders or seizure disorder that can mimic symptoms of ADHD. They will also look over any relevant documents, like the person's employment and education background.
The practitioner will also conduct an assessment of the psychological or behavioral. This could include a checklist of symptoms or a rating scale that reflects how the individual is feeling about certain actions. They can also use tests for cognitive or learning disabilities to determine if someone has a disorder that mimics ADHD like an issue with learning. They will also ask the person about their life, including whether they're experiencing stress situations or have any other medical conditions that can cause ADHD symptoms. They will also inquire about the person about their capacity to collaborate with others and follow instructions.
Diagnosis
ADHD symptoms can affect children and adults across a range of aspects of their lives. They include difficulties at work and school, poor performance in extracurricular activities and tensions in relationships. They also cause issues with driving and managing finances. The first step to getting an accurate diagnosis is to find a health care professional who is knowledgeable about ADHD. You could ask your child's doctor to run a test or you can consult a psychiatrist who is skilled in treating mental illness.
The first thing a specialist will do is question the patient about their behavior. In general, the doctor will ask for symptoms that have been present for at least a months. This will make sure that the symptoms are constant over time. The examiner will employ an assessment scale to assess the symptoms of ADHD. It could be the ASRS (Adult Self-Report Scale) or the DSM-5.
The doctor will also inquire about any current problems and look over the patient's medical background including any family history of ADHD. He or she will also look at the individual's academic and driving records, as well as relationships and family issues. The examiner wants to know the lifestyle of the person and if he or she is a drug or alcohol addict.
To diagnose ADHD, the doctor must be convinced that the symptoms are not better explained by a different disorder. In general, the symptoms must be present in multiple environments and be present for at minimum six months. The symptoms must be debilitating and not caused by another disease.
To confirm a diagnosis the specialist may administer one or more tests of focus, such as the TOVA continuous performance test. The TOVA test is administered by computer and involves watching visual stimuli like the shapes or letters that appear on the screen. The user watches the stimulus and presses a button whenever he or she recognizes the correct letter. The TOVA program then calculates scores that show the degree of difficulty that an individual has with tasks that require attention.
Treatment
A mental health professional will assess the symptoms of ADHD. This will include a thorough physical exam as well as an examination of medical and family history, and a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation will include questions regarding symptoms and how they affect the person's performance. It will also include standardized ADHD scales for behavior as well as other psychological tests.
The doctor may also speak with the patient's spouse, if applicable. This is not to examine honesty, but to get a better understanding of the patient's life experiences and behaviours. Many people with ADHD have trouble recalling their childhood experiences and it can be helpful to speak with other adults who have known the person for a long period of time. This information can aid the doctor in determining other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
For children who are evaluators, they will typically interview the child's teachers and parents. This is particularly important if the child is having problems at school. Additionally, the evaluator will likely ask about the child's social life and how their home and school environments are structured. test for adhd adults is important since the social environment is the main source of stress and difficulties for people with ADHD.
The physician will use the same rating scale with adult patients. However, test adhd in adults is more sophisticated. It is used to gather research data about symptoms. In some cases the examiner could use computerized testing to screen for symptoms of ADHD. The most frequently tested test is known as the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ADHD-RS) and was developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. Another type of test on computers called the continuous performance test (CPT), is a test that measures the ability of an individual to hold attention for a set amount of time.
The evaluator will decide if the individual meets the ADHD diagnostic criteria as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). This means that the individual has had six or more established symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity for at least six months and the symptoms have significantly impacted their social, academic and occupational functioning.
Medication
If your child is diagnosed with ADHD medications are likely to be part of the treatment plan. Stimulant medications are absorbed into bloodstreams and offer immediate relief from the symptoms. However, these medications should be used with caution. Too much stimulant can cause heart issues or addiction. The drugs that release slowly into the body, such as atomoxetine and Guanfacine, are less harmful but they don't work in the same way as stimulants. These medications may not be available for children suffering from certain medical conditions like Tourette Syndrome or congenital cardiac disease.
Psychotherapy is an additional component of a treatment program for adults suffering from ADHD. Therapists can help people learn to organize themselves better and devise strategies to improve their work and relationships. For instance, a therapist may help a person learn to make use of reminders, such as alarms or daily planners to keep them on the right track. A therapist can also help people with ADHD learn to manage their emotions more effectively and find ways to deal with stressful situations in their lives.
For adults with ADHD psychologists or psychiatrist may administer tests that test for anxiety, depression as well as learning disabilities and other disorders that could be similar to or coexist with ADHD such as a thyroid disorder or seizure disorder. Psychologists can also conduct a physical examination and look over the person's family history, medical records and behavior.
Some therapists use computer tests to screen adults for ADHD symptoms. The test evaluates the ability to keep attention on track and resist impulsive urges by prompting the person with visual targets on screens. The test evaluates the cognitive abilities of a person. It can be used in conjunction with self-report questions to provide the doctor an objective measurement of a patient’s response to treatment.
A newer genetic test method can be used to determine how a person's body will process medications. The test will help doctors choose the most appropriate drug for each person and avoid harmful side effects. However, this kind of testing is expensive and is not easily accessible. A medical professional is the most reliable way to diagnose ADHD in the individual.