How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and then use a rating system to make an ADHD diagnosis. The ratings are based upon established guidelines for determining ADHD in children, teens and adults.
The rating scale asks you questions such as whether you fidget, or how often you're distracted by unrelated thoughts. The doctor will also go over your family history and old school records.
Self-assessment
Although many people with ADHD can live productive lives, untreated symptoms can lead to problems in relationships, work and school. It isn't easy to recognize the disorder, particularly for adults. Adults may develop coping strategies over time, making their symptoms less apparent. Additionally, it can be difficult for doctors to differentiate between adult and childhood ADHD symptoms. This is why those suffering from the disorder are often not diagnosed.
A self-assessment is an effective way to gauge whether your symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ADHD. The test requires you to answer a series of questions and gives you an assessment. The test is easy to use and can be used to determine if you should seek medical treatment. Self-assessments help you monitor your symptoms over time.
Make sure you use an authentic resource when you take an online ADHD test. Choose a tool developed by mental health experts and developed by a healthcare institution or GP. Answering the questions honestly is crucial. The more honest you are the more precise your results will be.
There are other methods to determine ADHD among adults besides self-assessments. Health professionals can utilize assessment based on interviews or perform physical examinations and review your medical history. They may also perform brain scans, which are used to measure electrical activity in your brain. In some instances doctors may recommend medications.
The Symptom Checklist for Adults is one tool that helps identify signs of ADHD in adults. This tool has a high criterion validity, meaning that it is highly predictive of an ADHD diagnosis. In actuality the SCAS is a popular screener and is recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization.
Another tool is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). The scale has questions on hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. It is simple to use and takes only a few minutes to complete. The ASRS is based upon the DSM-5, which is the official manual that psychiatrists use to diagnose mental disorders. It is available on the Web although it's not available for free.
Diagnosis
If you suspect that your child or adult is suffering from ADHD the next step is to obtain an evaluation by a health specialist. You should look for someone who specializes in ADHD and it might help to start by calling your health plan's customer service department. They can provide you with names of specialists covered by your insurance or suggest professional organizations that provide referrals. You can also ask your friends and family members for recommendations or browse the internet for lists.
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms to diagnose ADHD. They usually employ an adapted version of a popular symptom rating scale. Some are specifically designed for children while others are targeted towards adults. 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 insights into your child's behavior that you may not be able on your own.
Your doctor may also inquire about your medical history, and may also conduct a an examination. This can help them rule other conditions out that may be similar to ADHD symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issues. They may also conduct mental health screening tests like anxiety and mood disorders or learning disabilities.
The most important thing to do when getting an ADHD diagnosis is to undergo an interview with a psychiatrist. The doctor must decide if your child or you meet the criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). You or your child should display symptomatic behavior in at minimum two settings such as school, home, and work. The behavior must also be so severe that it interferes with daily functioning. The symptomatic behavior must be present prior to 12 years of age and is not a result of any other disorder, such as anxiety or depression.
Treatment
A mental health healthcare professional or health provider is the first step towards receiving an ADHD diagnosis. This is essential because the symptoms of ADHD can be mimicked by other disorders, like anxiety or depression. A specialist can help you get diagnosed correctly and receive the most effective treatment.
To diagnose a patient medical professional will review the medical background and family history. They will also look at the person's current behavior and the school experience. This will include interviews or questionnaires with the person's teachers, parents, or babysitters. These questionnaires are founded on research that compares behavior of people suffering from ADHD with those of people who do not have it. These are sometimes called rating scales. The scores are determined by the frequency with which the person displays the three symptoms of an impulsiveness (impulsiveness) and inattention (inattention) and hyperactivity. The amount of questions asked, as well as the method by which scores are calculated, can differ between tests.
Other tests, like educational and cognitive assessments are used to determine the way a person thinks and learns. Broad-spectrum scales can be used to screen for emotional, social and psychiatric issues as well. They are particularly helpful for children because it is very easy for someone to be mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD when they suffer from other conditions like anxiety, mood disorders or learning disabilities.
A thorough assessment of a child with suspected ADHD includes interviewing their teacher. It is also recommended to speak to the child's pediatrician as well as other trusted adults who know the child. Additionally, private adhd test can be very helpful in determining ADHD. ADHD symptoms are often exacerbated by poor sleep quality. A regular bedtime and going to bed at the same time every night can help.
Treatment for adults with ADHD is similar as it is for children. Most of the time it's a combination of therapy and medication. Therapy can teach life skills, improve communication between families and assist people in learning more effective strategies for coping. It can also help with problems that arise when one family member has ADHD. These issues could include money problems, forgetting responsibilities at home or work and disagreements over impulsive choices.
Medication
The purpose of medication is to help people with ADHD stay on task and perform better. Some people find that stimulants- like Ritalin, Adderall or Strattera -- work best for them. Others find that non-stimulant medications such as clonidine and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) can help.
Before giving you or your child any medication, your healthcare provider will want to know about your symptoms, as well as about your family and personal medical history. They may suggest physical examinations to look for any underlying health issues.
Create a list with symptoms for yourself or your child. Bring it to your appointment along with any medical records or psychiatric records you might have.
A psychiatrist will employ rating scales to judge the behavior of your child or you. These scales of rating were created from research that examined the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those without it. Your doctor will also ask you to rate the frequency you observe your child or yourself show certain signs on a regular basis. They will convert your scores to percentiles and look at how the symptoms affect your life.
If you are an adult, your doctor will likely look at your personal and professional history and ask about any drug or alcohol abuse you might have had, as well as any problems at home or at the workplace. Adults should have fewer symptoms than children, with 5 out of 9 in the last six months.
Your examiner is likely to ask other people who know you, such as your parents, spouse or other relatives, as well as teachers or co-workers. The examiner will inquire with you about the intensity and frequency of symptoms that you or your children are experiencing, and how they impact your performance at school or work.
You or your child may be given a specific dose of medication. The dosage will be adjusted as needed. If you are taking stimulant medication ensure that you be sure to read the label thoroughly and only take the dosage according to the instructions. Stimulants can be addictive, so it is essential to follow the prescription of your doctor precisely.