How to Get a Confirmed ADHD Diagnosis
The process of confirming an ADHD diagnosis isn't as easy as taking an online test or rating scale. The process involves a medical and psychological evaluation.
Doctors review medical and family history including past tests as well as old school records. Teachers, parents and children are interviewed about their symptoms. ADHD symptoms are often seen in families.
Symptoms
ADHD is a condition that can be identified when a person has difficulty to stay on task, pay attention to details, or start and finish tasks that require concentration. However, a lot of people suffer from other disorders that can cause similar symptoms as ADHD which includes anxiety and depression. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis. testing adhd in adults will help determine if the symptoms are caused by ADHD or another disorder.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or neurologist who has experience with ADHD in adults or has a background in adult ADHD can conduct an evaluation. They will ask questions and speak to the person about their symptoms as well as the length of time they've been occurring frequently, how often, and how severe they are. They will also inquire about the person's family and medical history in addition to their work and school activities.
It is essential that a doctor is aware of any issues a patient might be having, such as relationship or financial problems. The doctor may also wish to speak to the person's teacher or employer about any issues they've encountered regarding the performance of the person at the classroom or at work. The doctor will interview parents, and may also need to interview other adults like teachers and coaches, nannies or coaches.
During the exam, the doctor will ask about the patient's medical history, and perform physical. The physical will look for conditions that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD like thyroid problems or seizure disorders. They will also review any relevant records, such as the person's job and educational history.
The doctor will also conduct a psychological or behavioral test. This could involve a list of symptoms or an assessment scale that measures how the individual feels about specific actions. They may also use cognitive or learning disabilities tests to determine if a person is suffering from a disorder that resembles ADHD like a learning difficulty. They may also inquire about the person's lifestyle for example, whether they are in a stressful environment or suffer from any other health issues which could cause ADHD symptoms worse. They will also inquire about the person about their ability to work with others and to follow the instructions.
Diagnosis
Symptoms of ADHD affect many aspects of life for both children and adults. They can cause problems in school and at work, poor performance in extracurricular activities and strained relationships. They also contribute to problems in driving and managing money. The first step in getting an accurate diagnosis is to find an expert in health care who is knowledgeable about ADHD. The doctor of your child can conduct an assessment, or you may want to find an expert psychiatrist who is specialized in mental disorders.
The first thing the specialist will do is question the patient about their behavior. In general the doctor will look for symptoms that have been present for at least six months. This will ensure that the symptoms have been constant over time. The examiner will employ a rating scale to evaluate symptoms of ADHD like the ASRS (Adult Self-Report Scale), or the DSM-5 (the official manual for diagnosing mental disorders).
The doctor will also inquire about any current problems and review the patient's medical background, including any family history of ADHD. The specialist will also review the person's academic and driving history as well as relationships and family issues. The examiner wants to know the person's habits and whether he or she is a drug or alcohol addict.
To determine ADHD, a specialist must be able to prove that the symptoms are not related to any other disorder. In general, the symptoms should be present in two or more settings and have been ongoing for at minimum six months. The symptoms must be debilitating and are not caused by any other illness.
To confirm a diagnosis the doctor can administer one or more tests of attention, such as the TOVA continuous performance test. The TOVA test is performed on a computer and involves observing a series of visual stimuli, for example shapes or letters, that appear on the screen. The person watches the stimuli and presses a button when he or she recognizes the correct letter. The TOVA program calculates scores to show how difficult it is for an individual to complete attention-related tasks.
Treatment
Anyone who exhibits symptoms of ADHD is usually examined for the disorder by a mental health professional. This will include an extensive physical examination as well as review of medical and family history and a psychiatric evaluation. The test will consist of questions about symptoms and their impact on an individual's functioning, standard ADHD behavior rating scales and other psychological testing.
The doctor can also talk to the patient's spouse, if applicable. This is not a way to test honesty, but to learn more about a patient's experiences and behavior. Many people suffering from ADHD have a difficult time recalling details from their childhood and it can be helpful to interview others who have known the patient for a long time. This will help the physician rule other conditions out which may trigger similar symptoms.
The evaluator may interview the child's parents and teachers. This is especially important in the event that the child is experiencing problems at school. In addition, the evaluator will likely inquire about the child's life in the social world and how their home and school environments are organized. This is important since the social environment is the primary source of stress and problems for individuals with ADHD.
The clinician will use the same rating scale for adult patients. However, it is more sophisticated. It is used to collect research data about symptoms. In certain instances the examiner will employ computerized testing to detect ADHD symptoms. The most widely used test is called the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ADHD-RS) and was created by the National Institute of Mental Health. Another type of computer test, the continuous performance test (CPT) is a test that measures the ability of an individual to hold concentration for a specified amount of time.
The evaluator will determine whether the individual is in compliance with 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 will likely be a part of the treatment program. Stimulant medication is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and can provide rapid relief from symptoms. However, these medicines must be administered with care. A high dose of stimulants can cause heart issues or addiction. The medications that release slowly into the body like atomoxetine and guanfacine are safer however they don't perform as fast as stimulants. These drugs might not be the best option for children with some medical conditions, such as Tourette syndrome or congenital heart disease.
Psychotherapy is an additional component of a treatment program for adults with ADHD. Therapists can teach people how to organize themselves better and develop strategies for improving their work and relationships. Therapists can teach the patient how to utilize reminders such as alarms or daily planners to keep track of their goals. Therapists can also assist people with ADHD learn to manage their emotions more effectively and find ways to manage the stressors in their lives.
For adults with ADHD, a psychologist or psychiatrist may conduct tests that test for depression, anxiety, learning disabilities and other disorders that may be similar to or coexist with ADHD such as seizure disorder or thyroid disorder. Psychiatrists may also perform an examination of the body and review the medical records of the patient, their family history, and behavior.
Some therapists employ a computer test to help test adults for ADHD symptoms. The test evaluates the ability to sustain attention and resist impulse-driven urges by presenting the individual with visual targets on the screen. The test is designed to assess the person's cognitive function and can be utilized in combination with self-report questions to give the clinician an objective assessment of the patient's response to therapy.
A newer genetic test is now available that can tell you the way in which a person's body process medications. The test can help doctors select the most appropriate drug for each person and avoid adverse side effects. This kind of test can be costly and is not readily accessible. The most reliable method to diagnose ADHD is by an experienced medical professional.