How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and then use an assessment system to determine an ADHD diagnosis. The ratings are based on a set guidelines to diagnose ADHD among children, teens, and adults.
The rating scale asks you questions about whether you fidget, or how often you're distracted with unrelated thoughts. The doctor will also go over the old school records as well as your family history.
Self-assessment
Although many people with ADHD are able to lead productive lives but untreated symptoms can cause difficulties in relationships, school and at work. It isn't easy to recognize the disorder, especially in adults. Adults can develop coping mechanisms over time, making their symptoms less apparent. Furthermore, online testing for adhd is difficult for doctors to differentiate between adult and childhood ADHD symptoms. As a result, adults with the condition are often misdiagnosed.
Self-assessment tests can be a great way to determine whether your symptoms are consistent with ADHD. The test requires you to answer a number of questions and gives you a score. This tool is easy to use and will help you determine if you should seek medical care. Self-assessments allow you to track your symptoms over time.
Make sure you use an authentic resource when you take an online ADHD test. Look for an assessment tool designed by a healthcare institution or GP and designed by mental health professionals. It is important to answer the questions truthfully. The more honest you are the more accurate your results will be.
In addition to self-assessments there are many other ways to identify ADHD in adults. Health professionals can conduct physical examinations or interview-based assessments and look over your medical records. They can also perform a brain scan, which analyzes the electrical activity of the brain. In some cases, doctors might even recommend medication.
The Symptom Checklist for Adults is one tool that can help detect indicators of ADHD in adults. This tool has a high criterion validity which means it is highly predictive of an ADHD diagnosis. The SCAS is widely used and recommended by both the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) as well as the World Health Organization.
Another tool is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). This scale asks questions about hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. It is simple to use and takes just a few minutes to complete. The ASRS is based upon the DSM-5, which is the official manual used by psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders. It can be found on the Web, though it is not available for free.
Diagnosis
You should consult an expert in medical care when you suspect that your child or adult is suffering from ADHD. You can start by contacting the customer service department of your health plan to find someone who is an expert in ADHD. You can request the names of specialists covered under your insurance plan or professional organizations that can refer you. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations, or look online for a list of specialists.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms to diagnose ADHD. They usually utilize a special version of a popular scale for rating symptoms. They are usually geared towards children but some are made for adults, too. The doctor may also interview those who know you or your child well -- parents, spouses, siblings for adults, as well as teachers and coaches for children. This will give them more insight into your or your child's behavior, which you may not be able to explain on your own.
Your doctor could also ask you about your medical history, and may also conduct a physical examination. This can aid in ruling out other conditions that could mimic ADHD symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issues. They may also conduct tests for mental health screening, such as mood and anxiety disorders or learning disabilities.
The most important aspect in obtaining an ADHD diagnosis is a medical interview with an expert. The doctor will determine if the symptoms of your child or you are in line with the guidelines established by the American Psychiatric Association in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM. Your child or you must have symptomatic behavior in two or more settings including home, school and work, and must be debilitating enough to interfere with your your child's daily functioning. The symptomatic behavior has to be present prior to the age of 12 and is not a result of any other condition, like depression or anxiety.
Treatment
The first step to receive a diagnosis of ADHD is seeing an a medical professional or mental health professional. This is crucial because symptoms of ADHD are often mirrored by other disorders, like anxiety or depression. A specialist can assist you to get diagnosed correctly and receive effective treatment.
To diagnose a patient medical specialist will examine medical history and family history. They will also look at the patient's behavior and school experiences. Interviews or questionnaires are given to the person's parents, teachers or babysitters. These questionnaires are based upon research that compares the behaviors of people suffering from ADHD and those without it. They are commonly referred to as rating scales. Scores are based on how often the person displays each of the symptoms: impulsivity and inattention as well as hyperactivity. The amount of questions asked, as well as the method by which scores are calculated, vary between tests.
Other tests are used to assess the way that a person learns and thinks. The use of broad-spectrum scales can be used to detect mental, emotional and social issues. These are particularly useful for children, as it is easy to mistakenly identify someone with ADHD when in fact they have another condition, such as anxiety or mood disorders.
A thorough assessment of a child with suspected ADHD includes speaking with their teacher. It is also recommended to speak to the child's doctor and other trusted adults who know the child. In addition, a sleeping diary can be extremely helpful in determining ADHD. Poor quality sleep makes the symptoms of ADHD worse. It is helpful to get a regular sleep time.
The treatment of adults with ADHD is similar to the treatment for children. Most of the time it's a mix of therapy and medication. Therapy can help teach people life skills and improve communication within the family, and help them develop better coping strategies. Therapy can also aid in addressing issues that arise when a family member suffers from ADHD. These include financial problems as well as the tendency to forget to fulfill responsibilities at work or home, and conflicts over impulsive decisions.
Medication
The goal of medication is to help those who suffer from ADHD stay on task and perform better. Some people find that stimulants -- like Ritalin, Adderall or Strattera -- work best for them. Some people find that nonstimulant drugs such as dextroamphetamine or clonidine (Dexedrine) aid.
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and your family history prior to prescribing any medication to you or your child. They may also recommend physical examinations to determine if there are any health issues.
You can assist by creating an outline of your child's symptoms. Bring this to your evaluation appointment, along with any medical or psychiatric records you might have.
A psychiatric professional uses ratings scales to evaluate your or your child's behavior. These scales are based on research that compares behaviors of those with ADHD to those of people who do not have it. Your doctor will also ask you to rank the frequency you observe your child or you display certain symptoms on a regular basis. Your doctor will convert your scores into percentiles, and then evaluate the impact of symptoms on your daily life.
If you're an adult, your physician will likely focus on your personal and professional background and inquire about any alcohol or drugs use you may have experienced or experienced, as well as any issues at home or at the workplace. Adults must meet a lower threshold of symptoms than children, which is 5 out of 9 times over the last six monthsto be considered a diagnosis.
Your examiner may interview people who know you well, such as your spouse or parents or teachers or colleagues. The examiner will inquire with you about the severity and frequency of the symptoms that you or your children are experiencing, and how they impact their performance at school or at work.
Your child or you may be prescribed a specific dosage of medication. This dosage will be adjusted if needed. If you are taking stimulant medication be sure to be sure to read the label thoroughly and take only according to the directions. It is crucial to adhere to the prescriptions of your doctor when taking stimulants.