Do Not Make This Blunder With Your ADHD Diagnosis Assessment

ADHD Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing ADHD in children. A consultation with an ADHD expert is the first step towards an accurate diagnosis.
It is recommended to bring any medical or academic documents to your appointment. It is also beneficial to bring rating scales and interviews that can provide information regarding your symptoms.
Symptoms
A thorough ADHD diagnosis requires physical examination and a conversation with a physician. The examiner will ask questions about the person's family history and childhood, and may employ checklists to document the symptoms of the individual. The evaluator may also look over documents from the workplace and school, and may wish to speak with teachers or other people 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 experienced multiple symptoms for at least six months, and that they occur in multiple settings, for example, at school and at home. The evaluator could also check for other conditions which can cause similar symptoms such as depression or anxiety.
Adults will be assessed to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on work or social life. The evaluator will also ask what the person's feelings are about their symptoms and how they impact daily life.
Many people who have ADHD struggle to remember if their problems started in the early years or later. A specialist will often interview people who are familiar with the person, such as their spouse, sibling, or parent for an adult or a teacher parent of a child. The examiner may use checklists to evaluate adults, as well as a list with the behaviors that children exhibit.
Contrary to the past, current diagnostic guidelines state that an adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD when symptoms were evident before the age of 12. psych assessment for adhd is designed to protect people who suffered from ADHD as children from being misdiagnosed as having other disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Medical History
If you suspect that you or your child has ADHD, the first step is to locate an expert who can perform an extensive assessment. Contact your doctor or an experienced local mental health specialist for recommendations, or look in the phone book under "psychiatry" or "psychology." You can also join an adult ADHD support group, as many will have worked with local specialists who could provide referrals.
During the ADHD diagnostic assessment, a healthcare professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire about the effects of the symptoms on functioning in different environments, like at work, home, or in relationships. It is important to assess the severity of the symptoms in light of the APA's guidelines for diagnosing ADHD stipulate that the symptoms must result in significant impairment for the diagnosis to be made.
The healthcare professional will talk to the patient, but they may request details from the patient's parents siblings, friends, and parents who know him. Some professionals ask people to fill out questionnaires or scales. These may include ADHD symptoms checklists and behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers are often valuable sources of information, too.
It is important to assess how the person's symptoms interfere with functioning in different settings, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines state that symptoms have to occur often and cause impairment to performance. This is crucial, since other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities could be similar to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical exam may also be done to determine if there are other possible causes for the symptoms. These could include thyroid issues, vision or hearing issues, or prescription medications such as stimulants and sedatives.
Family History
In certain cases, a history of ADHD in the family could be a major factor in the determination of the diagnosis. It is a highly heritable condition, and a thorough examination of the patient's and his or her family members history can help determine if there is a familial pattern.
It is important that providers get a complete picture about the symptoms of their patients, which includes whether or not they happen in work, school or in social situations. A doctor must also determine the extent to which a person's symptoms hinder their everyday functioning. This is more important than simply counting symptoms or examining the IQ of patients.
A doctor may conduct an interview with a child or teen, as well as his or her parents. In a majority of cases, a pediatrician psychiatrist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD. For adults, a thorough interview is required by a mental health specialist who has a wealth of experience in ADHD and takes the time to examine the individual's symptoms.
A thorough evaluation includes a physical exam, which can help rule out certain conditions that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical record is also required. This may include school and medical documents as in addition to a psychologist's or school counselor's psychological assessment. For adults the old school records are often useful in establishing the cause of symptoms that began in the early years of life.
When diagnosing adults with psychiatric disorders, it is particularly important to look at how the symptoms affect daily functioning. A thorough psychiatric evaluation could be required, including rating scales and questions by the patient and caregivers and caregivers, as well as a clinical interview and referral for a medical examination. Additionally, psychometric or neuropsychological assessment is often used for adults in order to see how the symptoms are related to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments.
Interviews
A provider will interview you or your child regarding their issues at home, at school, and in the community. The provider will inquire about your or child's medical, family, and personal background, and will look over any records that you may bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will assist the doctor to determine if 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 which includes both home and school. The ratings should be provided by people who know your child and yourself well, including coaches, teachers, religious leaders, scouts and parents.
Children and adults who are diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that are debilitating, and interfere with daily functioning whether at school, work or playing. The signs should be evident in childhood, usually before the age of 12. They can't be caused by another mental health issue.
Psychometric and neuropsychological tests to measure IQ, brain function, and cognitive functioning can improve the accuracy and sensitivity of ADHD assessments. They should be utilized in conjunction with a clinician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment strategy. These assessments can involve the administration of a standardized test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized testing method that measures executive functions, short-term memory and speed of response. 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 permitting the person being evaluated to be in their environment instead of sitting in an office for clinical evaluation.
Tests
Your GP or a mental health specialist may recommend you to an expert if he or she suspects ADHD. A thorough assessment should include an extensive interview, data from independent sources like your spouse or significant others, and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. The evaluator will order tests based on the clinical impression and will screen for conditions that could be causing your symptoms. This includes depression as well as learning disabilities or a medical condition.
To conduct an accurate ADHD evaluation, the evaluator must determine if your symptoms significantly impact your daily life and function. The impairment can occur in a variety settings such as your home, work or school, as well as social interactions. The evaluator will inquire how your condition affected you in each circumstance. This will allow the evaluator make an assessment, and then formulate treatment suggestions.
A comprehensive test will include the symptoms ratings and standardized tests for performance for ADHD. These testing instruments are based on research comparing the behavior of those with ADHD with those without. They can improve the limitations of a clinical interview by focusing on specific behavior rather than the general performance. These measures can assist evaluators detect when an individual is lying or attempting to cheat on a test. This issue has been recognized by experts in the field for a long time.
In addition to the standardized test and the symptom-rating scales and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD assessment should include brain scans and other imaging techniques for the brain. These tests aren't used in clinical settings since they are expensive and expose patients to radioactive ionization.