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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life. It is the reason why some people have difficulty staying organized and following directions, or staying focused. Ask your family physician or your therapist to refer you to a specialist. Also, check with your insurance to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults. Diagnosis Process A psychiatrist, psychologist, or specialist nurse is required to examine adults to determine the correct diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who are able to determine the presence of ADHD in adults. A typical initial evaluation will begin with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will also be looking to determine how long it has been present and how they affect you. They might also want to speak to an immediate family member or friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluating you may include questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder was present in childhood. So, the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and speak to those who knew you as a child. They may also inquire if you have ever had any mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. In certain instances the evaluator might suggest cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or tests for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical ailments that might be the cause of your symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems. If your doctor is certain that your symptoms are due to ADHD They may suggest additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the problem. These tests could include blood and urine testing as well as a medical examination and even psychological or educational testing. Tests are used to measure levels of certain chemicals that could be linked with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. They may also give you a spirometry test, which will measure your lung capacity. They may also recommend an imaging scan of the brain to look for functional or structural issues. In certain instances the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be examined for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders. The Interview There are many ADHD tests and quizzes that you can use to test your knowledge, before making an appointment with your physician. These tests could alert you to the possibility that you have ADHD however an interview with a doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis. The process can last from 2 to 3 hours and includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. It may also include the doctor seeking out a history of substance abuse or depression since these conditions may co-exist 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. The psychologist or psychiatrist will also need to review the student's school records and discuss the situation with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal insight can uncover details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires. Some doctors are overloaded and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting an extensive examination. This can lead to a doctor making an incorrect diagnosis. If the doctor is too rigid about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and insists that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order for a diagnosis, that's an indication of trouble. For adults, the evaluator may request the patient to fill out ratings for each of the symptoms on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how those symptoms have impacted his or her life. The assessor will then compare the scores with the checklist and assess the severity of ADHD. It can be a relief for some adults to get an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions -such as guilt over not living up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't discovered until later in life -are often complicated. ADHD is defined by impulsivity and a lack of attention. These traits can lead to grave consequences in a variety of areas including relationships work, health, and careers. The Tests Finding an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It involves a lot paperwork as well as interviews and tests. The best method to prepare is to seek recommendations from family, friends and doctors you trust. You should also research the physician and their credentials to make sure they are a good fit to your requirements. It is important to find a specialist who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD. This will ensure that you or your child receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment. The first step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or yourself to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how the symptoms impact your life and whether they impact school, work or relationships. The evaluator can also use rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. You may be asked if you frequently forget appointments or how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators also ask those who know you or your child to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. Adults might be asked to fill out questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children may be required to complete questionnaires by coaches, teachers daycare workers, coaches or parents. Personal experience can provide information that isn't possible to gather from a survey. Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities are contributing to your symptoms. They may also screen for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression, or psychosis that is in the beginning. They might also test for underlying conditions such as seizure disorders and hypothyroidism. A few evaluators will offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to non-target and target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at how often you respond non-target stimuli and how long it takes for you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators to determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD. Follow-up Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The specialist will inquire about what your concerns are, and how long the issues have been affecting you for. The specialist will also ask whether there is a family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is about 70%-80% heritable, and that genes play a big role in determining whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms. The expert will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work and at school. He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various environments because ADHD symptoms are different in different situations. In addition, to qualify for an assessment of ADHD the parent or child must have six or more documented signs of inattention or hyperactivity and an impulsiveness that hinder daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months. To aid the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, they must rule out other conditions. These may include other psychiatric disorders including anxiety and mood disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that may have impacted your child's or yourself's brain development. He will also consider whether your or your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health condition or medications you or your child takes. Side effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches and trouble sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and some sleep medicines may also cause these side effects. The expert will also need to determine whether there is a comorbidity. diagnose adult adhd means that you or your child might have another condition that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could be depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine all of the information and come up with a diagnosis.