ADHD Diagnosis
Adults can be more difficult to diagnose than children. A clinical interview with an ADHD expert is the first step to an accurate diagnosis.
Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. You can also bring questionnaires or rating scales that provide information about your symptoms.
Symptoms
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and interview you to determine whether ADHD is present. The evaluator will ask questions about the person's family and childhood, and might use checklists to note the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator may also look over documents from the workplace and school, and may want to talk with teachers or others who interact 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 has several symptoms for at least six months, and that the symptoms are present in more than one place like at home, at work or school. The evaluator could also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like anxiety or depression.
Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on social or work life. The evaluator may also ask the person what their feelings are about their symptoms and if they impact their daily activities.
Many people suffering from ADHD cannot remember when their problems began. A specialist will often interview someone who is familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult, or a teacher or parent for the child. adhd diagnosis assessment may use checklists to evaluate adults, as well as a list with behaviors for children.
Unlike in the past, the current guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that an adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD when symptoms were evident before age 12. This change is meant to prevent people who had ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Medical Histories
If you suspect that your child or yourself may have ADHD The first step should be to consult an expert who will perform a thorough assessment. Consult your doctor or mental health professional in your area for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also join an adult ADHD support group, since many will have worked with local specialists who are able to offer referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic assessment, a healthcare specialist will examine the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire as to what the symptoms hinder functioning in various settings, such as at home, at work, or with relationships. It is important to assess the severity of the symptoms in light of the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD note that the symptoms must result in significant impairment to be diagnosed.
The healthcare professional will typically interview the person, but they may also talk to siblings, parents and friends who are familiar with him. Some healthcare professionals will ask people to complete questionnaires or fill out rating scales, which include ADHD symptoms checklists as well as standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can be useful sources of information.
It is crucial to determine how the individual's symptoms affect in various environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines note that symptoms have to occur often and cause impairment to performance. This is important, as other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities can appear similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). Additionally an exam by a doctor could be conducted to determine other possible causes of the symptoms, such as thyroid issues, vision or hearing problems or the use of certain drugs like stimulants or sedatives.
Family History
In certain cases there is a history of ADHD in the family can be a significant factor in the determination of a diagnosis. It is a highly heritable condition, and a thorough examination of the patient's and his or her relatives histories can help determine whether there is a family pattern.
It is important that providers have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, including whether or not they happen in work, school or in social situations. A provider should also determine the extent of how symptoms impact the person's everyday functioning. This is a more accurate method than simply examining symptom counts or examining a patient's IQ.
A doctor can interview a child or teen, as well as the parents. In many cases, a pediatrician or psychiatrist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health professional with extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct an in-depth interview for adults.
A comprehensive evaluation usually includes a physical examination, which can rule out certain medical conditions that could cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical history is also a must. For children, this may include previous medical and school records as well as an evaluation of psychological health by a school counselor or psychologist. For adults documents from school are often useful in establishing the cause of symptoms that began in the early years of life.
In the case of diagnosing adults, it is especially important to determine if the symptoms impact the daily activities. A thorough psychiatric exam might be required, including scoring scales and questions asked by caregivers and patients in addition to a clinical interview and referral for a medical examination. Additionally assessment of neuropsychological or psychometric factors can be used in adult cases to determine if the symptoms are related to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child regarding their problems at home, school, and in the community. The provider will inquire about your or child's medical personal, family, and medical history, and will review any records that you may bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will enable the doctor to determine if you or your child is required to undergo a test 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 usually taken over the course of six months which includes both home and school. The rating must be performed by those who are familiar with your or your child's behavior like teachers, religious and Scout leaders, coaches and parents.
Children and adults who are diagnosed with ADHD are likely to exhibit symptoms that are debilitating, and affect their daily activities whether at work, school, or play. Symptoms must begin in the early years of childhood, usually before age 12. They cannot be caused by any other mental health disorder.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that measure IQ, cognitive functioning and brain function can improve the sensitivity and specificity of ADHD evaluations. However, they should be utilized as part of an assessment process that includes a clinician interview and rating scales. These assessments could involve the administration of a standard questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA), or a computerized adaptive testing approach that allows for measurement of responses speed short-term memory, executive functions. In the near future, digital technology like virtual reality and head sensors that monitor head movements for continuous performance tests could help improve the ecological validity by allowing people to be immersed in their natural surroundings instead of being in a clinic.
Tests
If your doctor or mental health professional suspects ADHD, he or she might refer you to an ADHD specialist. A complete evaluation should include a comprehensive interview, information from independent sources like your spouse or significant other, and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. Based on the clinical findings the evaluator could conduct tests to test for other conditions that could have an impact on your symptoms, including depression, learning disabilities, or a medical condition.
A thorough ADHD assessment requires the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are seriously affecting your life and performance. The problem can manifest in a variety of settings, for example, at home at work, at school, or with your social relationships. The evaluator will ask you how your condition affected you in every situation. This will allow the evaluator to establish an assessment and 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 built on research that examines the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those who don't. They improve upon the limitations of the clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviors instead of assessing a person's general performance. These measures can help evaluaters determine if a person is lying or trying to cheat on a test. This issue has been recognized by experts in the field for many years.
In addition to the standard test and the symptom-rating scales and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD assessment should include brain scans and other neurological imaging procedures. However, these tests are not often used in a clinic setting due to the cost and expose the patient to radiation.