ADHD Diagnosis

Diagnosing ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing ADHD in children. A consultation with an ADHD expert is the first step to a good diagnosis.

Bring any medical or academic records to your appointment. You may bring questionnaires and rating scales to provide details about your symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

A thorough ADHD diagnosis involves physical examination and a conversation with a physician. The evaluator may ask questions about the person's childhood and their family history and utilize checklists to record symptoms. The evaluator will also go over the records of work and school and may wish to speak with teachers or other people who are close to 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 suffers from multiple symptoms that last for at least 6 months, and that the symptoms are present in more than one setting -- such as at home, school or at work. The evaluator can also look for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms such as depression or anxiety.

Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of symptoms and their impact on social or work life. The evaluator can also inquire about how they feel about their symptoms and if they affect their daily activities.

Many people suffering from ADHD cannot remember the time when their issues began. A specialist will typically interview people who are familiar with the person, like their spouse, sibling or parent for an adult, or a teacher or parent for children. The assessor may use checklists for adults, and for children, a list of behaviors to look out for.

Contrary to the previous guidelines for diagnosing An adult cannot be diagnosed with ADHD until the symptoms have been identified prior to the age of 12. This change is intended to prevent people who had ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed with other disorders like anxiety or depression.

Medical Histories

If you suspect your child or yourself has ADHD The first step is to speak with an expert who can perform a thorough assessment. Ask your personal physician or a local mental health care specialist for recommendations, or look in the phone book for "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also join an adult ADHD support group, since many will have worked with local specialists who can offer referrals.

During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a medical specialist will examine the patient's medical and family history. They will ask about the impact of the symptoms on functioning in different settings such as at work, home, or in relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms as the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms must cause significant impairment to be diagnosed.

The healthcare professional will generally interview the patient, however, they might also request to talk to his or her parents, siblings and friends who know him well. Some healthcare professionals will ask people to fill out questionnaires or rating scales, such as ADHD symptom checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can also be valuable sources of information.

It is crucial to determine how the person's symptoms interfere in various environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that symptoms have to occur often and cause impairment to performance. This is important because other disorders like mood disorders and learning disabilities may be similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam may also be done to determine if there are any other possible reasons for the symptoms. These include thyroid problems, vision or hearing issues, or medications such as stimulants and sedatives.

Family History

In certain instances, a history of ADHD in the family could be a major factor in making a diagnosis. It is a hereditary condition, and a careful review of the patient's and his or her relatives history can help determine whether there is a family pattern.

It is essential that doctors have a complete picture of the symptoms of their patients, such as whether or not they are present at work, in school or in social settings. A physician should also consider the degree of how symptoms impact a person's daily functioning. This is more important than simply counting symptoms or examining the IQ of the patient.

For teens and children, a doctor may interview the teen or child and his or her parents. In many instances, a psychiatrist or pediatrician is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct a thorough interview for adults.

A comprehensive evaluation includes a physical examination which can help determine certain conditions that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. This could include school and medical records, as in addition to a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological evaluation. For adults, old school records are often helpful in determining the cause of symptoms that began in childhood.

When diagnosing adults, it is important to consider how symptoms affect daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric examination could be required, which may include rating scales and questions by the caregiver and patient, as well as an interview with a clinician and referral to a medical exam. In add adhd assessment , psychometric or neuropsychological assessment is sometimes used for adults to determine if the symptoms relate to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.

Interviews

A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child about issues at home, in school, and in the community. The provider will inquire about your child's medical personal, family, and medical history, and will also review any documents you might bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will help the doctor determine if you or your child is eligible to take a test for diagnosing 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. The ratings are typically conducted over a period of six months, and include both school and home. The ratings must be done by people who are familiar with your or your child's behaviors, such as teachers as well as religious and Scout leaders, coaches and parents.

Children and adults who are diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that are debilitating, and interfere with daily functioning at work, school or playing. Symptoms must begin in childhood, typically before age 12. click to find out more can't be caused by a mental health problem.

The sensitivity and specificity in ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using neuropsychological and psychometric tests that assess IQ and cognitive performance. However, they should only be utilized as part of an assessment plan that includes a clinical interview and rating scales. These assessments can involve the administration of a standard test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults, or a computerized testing method that measures executive functions, short-term memories and speed of response. In the near future the use of digital technology like virtual reality for continuous performance tests and head movement sensors may enhance the ecological reliability of these ADHD assessment tools by permitting the person being evaluated to be in their natural environment rather than in the clinical office.

Tests

Your physician or mental health specialist may recommend you to an expert if he or suspects ADHD. A complete evaluation will include an extensive interview, data from other sources like your spouse or significant others, as well as standardized behavior ratings scales for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression the evaluator might also request tests to check for other conditions that could influence your symptoms, such as depression, learning disabilities or a medical condition.


A thorough ADHD evaluation is required by the examiner to determine if your symptoms are significantly affecting your life and performance. The impairment can occur in a variety of settings that include your workplace, home or school, as well as social interactions. The evaluator will inquire what your symptoms affected you in every situation. This will help the evaluator identify the cause and make treatment recommendations.

In addition to the symptom ratings The complete assessment will typically include one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These instruments for testing are based on research that compares the behavior of people suffering from ADHD with those without. They enhance the effectiveness of an interview with a clinician by focusing on specific behaviors rather than a person's overall performance. These measures can also aid in identifying when an individual is lying or attempting to cheat on the test which has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing.

A thorough ADHD evaluation may include the brain scan or other neuroimaging procedures in addition to the typical test and symptom rating scales. These tests aren't used in clinical settings because they cost a lot of money and expose patients to ionizing radioactivity.