Getting an ADHD Diagnosis

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It is the reason why some people struggle to stay organized in their work, following directions or staying focused.

Ask your family doctor or your therapist to refer you to an expert. Also make sure to check with your insurance to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.

Diagnosis Process

For adults, a proper diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.

A detailed interview about your symptoms and how you are feeling is often the first step in an initial evaluation. The healthcare professional could be able to inquire about the length of time you have had symptoms and how they affect your life. They may ask you to talk to a friend or family member about your symptoms.

The evaluation process may also include questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder was present during childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will need to examine your school records and talk to those who knew you when you were an infant. They'll also ask if you have experienced any other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.

In some instances an evaluator might recommend cognitive tests, like IQ tests or tests for learning or memory issues. They may also recommend that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may be causing your symptoms.

If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they will recommend further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests may include blood and urine testing, a medical exam, and even psychological or educational testing.


The tests are designed to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be associated with ADHD, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. You could also receive the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They might also suggest a brain imaging scan to determine if there are any structural or functional abnormalities. In certain 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 a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use to test your knowledge, before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests can be useful in identifying the possibility of ADHD However, the only way to receive a diagnosis is with a medical professional who conducts a thorough medical interview and does not rush into prescribing medications.

The process could last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and the possible impact it has on their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about depression or substance abuse as 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. The doctor will also want to review the patient's school records as well as discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult or spouse, a family member could also be interviewed. Personal experience can reveal details that are not available through questionnaires.

Some doctors are overloaded and skip this step, or they might insist on seeing a patient only once, rather than conducting an extensive evaluation. This can lead a doctor to make an incorrect diagnosis. This is a red flag when the doctor is not adamant about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD.

For adults, the evaluator may ask the patient to complete ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how the symptoms have impacted the patient's life. The evaluator will then compare the ratings with the checklist and assess the patient for ADHD.

It's often a relief for some adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions -like guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't discovered until later in life -- can be complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications in a variety of areas of the life of a person, including relationships, career and health.

The Tests

Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they meet your needs. It is essential 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 initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluation expert. The evaluator might ask you or your child questions to find out more about your symptoms. how to get an adhd diagnosis uk would like to understand how your symptoms affect you and whether they affect your school, work, or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms. These usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you a series of questions. For instance, you might be asked if you frequently miss appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt others.

Many evaluators will also request people who know you and your child well to fill out questionnaires based on their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses or siblings for children. It might be teachers, coaches, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire.

A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or intellectual impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or incipient psychosis. They might also test for underlying disorders like seizure disorders and hypothyroidism.

Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to determine how you respond both to target and nontarget stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that tests your ability to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes. The evaluator will examine the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes for you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.

The Follow-Up

A variety of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and make a diagnosis. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist as well as psychologist or neurologist. The specialist will want to know what your concerns are and how long the problems have been occurring. He will also ask about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80% hereditary. Genes play a major role in whether your child or you will suffer from symptoms.

He will ask about how ADHD affects you or your child at home, school, and work. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior in different environments, since the signs of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different settings. In addition, to be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD the parent or child must display six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning for at least 6 months.

To make a correct diagnosis, the specialist will have to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric conditions, mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, for example thyroid issues, should be a possibility. In addition, the doctor will ask about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any previous injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your or your child's brain.

The doctor will also examine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your children or yourself are caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child take. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other medications, including sleep medications, antidepressants, and certain sleep aids.

Finally, the expert will be required to determine if a comorbidity present which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the information and make an assessment.