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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. It is the reason why people have issues such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized. Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance company to determine if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients. Diagnosis Process A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse will be required to assess adults in order to determine the correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults. A detailed interview about you and your symptoms is usually the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional may also inquire about how long you've had symptoms and how they impact your life. They may also ask to speak to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluation could also include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk to teachers or other people who knew you as a child. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, an evaluator may suggest cognitive tests like IQ testing or tests for memory or learning problems. They might also suggest other medical exams to rule out physical issues that might be causing your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issues. If a healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD They will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests may include blood and urine testing as well as a medical examination and perhaps educational or psychological tests. The tests will be used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals in your body that might be linked to ADHD, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. You may also be given a spirometry, which measures lung capacity. They may also recommend that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In some instances your evaluator could suggest that you or a child be evaluated for disorders that have similar symptoms to ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questionnaires which can serve as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor. These tests can alert you to the possibility that you suffer from ADHD However, an interview with a doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis. This process could take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours and includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it might influence their symptoms. It may also include the clinician asking about a history of depression or substance abuse because these issues are often co-occurring with ADHD. A good diagnostic interview will involve a discussion of the patient's symptoms and their impact, and the psychologist or psychiatrist will use a checklist designed to evaluate hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness. In addition, the clinician will want to review school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or a family member. Personal experience can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires. Some doctors are overloaded and don't bother with this step or they might insist on seeing a patient only once, instead of conducting a full assessment. This can lead to misdiagnosis. If the clinician is too firmly rooted in the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and insists that a patient needs to display six or more symptoms to be diagnosed this is a red flag. For adults, the evaluator might request that the patient complete ratings for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how the symptoms have affected his or her life. The evaluator will then compare the scores against the checklist and evaluate the severity of ADHD. For some adults, it could be a relief to be diagnosed with ADHD. The underlying emotions, such as guilt or resentment for not meeting expectations or that the disorder was not recognized until later in life, may be complicated. The inattention and impulsivity that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications throughout a person's life, including relationships, work and health. The Tests Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and complicated process. It requires a lot of paperwork as well as interviews and tests. You can prepare by obtaining recommendations from trusted doctors or family members, as well as friends. Check out the credentials of the specialist and make sure they're a good match for your requirements. It is important to find a professional who is skilled in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the best treatment. The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the assessor. adult adhd diagnosis will ask questions about your child or you to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms impact your daily life and if they impact work, school or relationships. The evaluator might also employ rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They typically consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you several questions. You might be asked whether you are prone to forgetting appointments or how often you interrupt other people. Many evaluators also solicit people who know you or your child well to fill out questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could be spouses and siblings and for children, it could be coaches, teachers or even daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a survey. A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder or an underlying psychosis. They may also screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism or seizure disorders. Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to gauge the way you react to stimuli that are targeted and non-target. For instance the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computerized test that assesses your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes. The evaluator will examine the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluaters determine which type of ADHD you are: impulsive or inattentive. Follow-up Many kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD evaluations and provide a diagnosis. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist or. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are, and how long these problems have been affecting you for. The specialist will also ask if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80 percent heritable. Genes play a major role in whether your child or you experience symptoms. The professional will be interested in how your your child's ADHD affects your life such as at work, home and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior across various settings, because the symptoms of ADHD differ when they are encountered in different situations. In addition, to qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD, your or your child must exhibit six or more established symptoms of hyperactivity or inattention and an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months. To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must rule out other conditions. These could include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, such as thyroid disorders. The specialist will also ask about your child's or yourself's sleep habits and any injuries or accidents in the past that might have impacted your child's or yourself's brain development. The doctor will also determine whether the signs of ADHD in your child or you are connected to any health issues or medications you or your child take. Side effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD may include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other medications, including antidepressants and certain sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects. The specialist will also need to determine whether there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child might have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder. The psychologist or psychiatrist will review all of the data and make a diagnosis.