ADHD Diagnosis

Adults are more difficult to identify than children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a thorough interview conducted by an expert in ADHD.

Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. You can bring questionnaires and rating scales that give information about your symptoms.


Signs and symptoms

A doctor will conduct a physical examination and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator may ask questions about the person's childhood and family history, and use checklists to document symptoms. The evaluator will also go over school and work records and may want to talk with teachers or other individuals 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. The criteria are that the individual must have had several symptoms for atleast six months and that they occur in multiple settings, such as at school and at home. The evaluator may also check for other conditions which can cause similar symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.

Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of their symptoms and their impact on work or social life. The evaluator might also ask the individual what their feelings are about their symptoms and whether or not they interfere with their daily life.

Many people suffering from ADHD are unable to remember the exact date they began experiencing problems. A specialist will often interview anyone who is familiar with the individual, for example, their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult, or a teacher or parent of a child. The evaluation expert may use checklists to evaluate adults as well as 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 unless symptoms were present before age 12. This change is designed to protect people who suffered from ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed as having other disorders, such as anxiety or depression.

Medical Histories

If you suspect that you or your child is suffering from ADHD The first step is to find an expert who can provide an exhaustive evaluation. Ask your doctor or a mental health specialist in your area for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also contact a support group for adults with ADHD, as they've worked with local experts who can provide referrals.

A healthcare professional will go over the person's medical history as well as family background during the ADHD diagnostic assessment. They will inquire about how the symptoms affect functioning in different settings, like at work, home or in relationships. It is important to assess the severity of the symptoms because the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that the symptoms have to cause significant impairment for the diagnosis to be made.

The healthcare professional will talk to the patient, but may also seek details from the patient's parents siblings, friends, and parents who know him. Some healthcare professionals require patients to fill out questionnaires or scales. They may also ask for ADHD symptoms checklists and rating of behavior. Teachers and other caregivers can be helpful sources of information as well.

It is crucial to determine how the person's symptoms interfere with functioning in different situations, since the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that the symptoms must occur frequently and affect performance. This is crucial, since other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities may appear similar as ADHD (Austerman 2015). Additionally, a medical exam may be performed to check for other possible causes of the symptoms, such as thyroid problems, vision and hearing problems or the use of certain medications, such as stimulants or sedatives.

Family History

In some cases there are instances where an ancestor's history of ADHD is a crucial aspect in obtaining the diagnosis. It is highly genetically inherited, and a thorough review of the patient's and relatives' histories can help determine if there is any pattern of inheritance in the family.

It is essential for health professionals to get a complete picture of a patient's symptoms, for example, whether they happen at school, work or in social situations. A provider must also assess the degree to which a person's symptoms affect their daily functioning. This is a more accurate method than simply examining the number of symptoms or looking at the patient's IQ.

A doctor may conduct an interview with a child or teen, as well as his or her parents. In adhd diagnosis assessment , a pediatrician or psychiatrist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a thorough interview is required by a mental health professional who has extensive experience with ADHD and has the time to evaluate each patient's situation.

A thorough evaluation includes a physical examination, which can help rule out certain conditions that may cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical history is also required. This could include school and medical records as along with a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological assessment. School records from the past can be helpful for adults to determine if symptoms started in the early years of childhood.

If you are diagnosing an adult, it is especially important to examine how the symptoms impact daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric examination may also be necessary that includes the use of questionnaires and rating scales by the patient and their caregivers, a clinical interview and referral for a medical exam. Adults can also undergo a psychometric or neuropsychological assessment to determine the connection between their symptoms and learning disorders.

Interviews

A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child about their issues at home, in school and in the community. The provider will ask about your child's medical, family, and personal background, and will look over any documents you might bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will assist the doctor to decide whether you or your child is eligible to undergo a test to determine 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 conducted over a period of six months, and cover both school and home. The ratings must be done by those who are familiar with your or your child's behavior, such as teachers and religious leaders, scout and Scout leaders, coaches, and parents.

Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD are likely to exhibit symptoms that are debilitating, and can hinder their daily functioning at school, work, or play. The signs should be evident in early childhood, typically before the age of 12. They can't be caused by a mental health problem.

Psychometric and neuropsychological tests that test IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can improve the sensitivity and specificity of ADHD assessments. However, they should only be utilized as part of an assessment process that includes a clinical interview and rating scales. These tests could include the administration of a standard questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA) or an adaptive test that is computerized that can measure the speed of response, short-term memory and executive functions. In the future, digital technology such as virtual reality for continuous performance tests as well as head movement sensors may enhance the ecological reliability of these ADHD assessment tools by giving the person being assessed to be in their surroundings instead of sitting in the clinical office.

Tests

If your physician or mental health professional suspects ADHD the doctor may recommend you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough assessment will consist of an extensive interview, data from other sources, such as your spouse or significant others, as well as standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression, the evaluator may also request tests to check for other conditions that may influence your symptoms, like depression, learning disabilities or a medical condition.

To conduct an accurate ADHD evaluation, the evaluator must determine whether your symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life and function. It can happen in a variety settings such as your home, work, school and social relationships. The evaluator will inquire how your condition affected you in each situation. This will allow the evaluator to make an assessment and formulate treatment recommendations.

A comprehensive assessment will comprise, in addition to symptoms ratings and standardized tests for performance for ADHD. These instruments for testing are based on research and compare the behavior of people suffering from ADHD to those who do not. They can improve the limitations of the clinical interview by focusing on specific behaviours rather than the general performance. These measures can also help evaluators identify when the person is not being honest or is trying to cheat the test, a problem that has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing.

In addition to the standard test and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD evaluation should include brain scans or other imaging techniques for the brain. These tests are not utilized in clinical settings due to the fact that they are costly and expose patients to radioactive ionization.