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Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. This is why some people have issues such as staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized. Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to an expert. Contact your insurance provider to determine if they cover ADHD assessments for adults. The Diagnosis Process A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will be required to evaluate adults in order to make a proper diagnosis. These are the only healthcare professionals who are able to determine the presence of ADHD among adults. A typical initial evaluation will start with a thorough interview about your life and symptoms. The healthcare professional will also want to know how long it has been present and how they impact your daily life. They might suggest that you talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms. The process of evaluating you may include questions regarding your childhood. Because current guidelines do not allow a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorder being present in childhood, your healthcare provider may wish to look at your school records or talk to teachers or other individuals who knew you as a child. They may also inquire whether you've had any mental health issues like depression or anxiety. In certain situations the evaluator might recommend cognitive testing, such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning problems. They may also suggest that you take other kinds of medical tests to rule out any physical issues that may cause your symptoms. If the healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will suggest further diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. These tests could include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and possibly educational or psychological tests. Tests are used to determine the levels of specific chemicals that may be associated with ADHD in your body, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. You may also be given the spirometry test to determine your lung capacity. They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for structural or functional abnormalities. In some cases, the evaluator may suggest that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that may 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 questions that you can use to test your knowledge, before making an appointment with your physician. These tests may provide you with the information that you suffer from ADHD however a doctor's clinical interview is the only method to confirm the diagnosis. The process can last from about 2 to 3 hours. It includes time explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about depression or substance abuse as these issues can co-occur 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. Additionally, the doctor will need to look over school records and talk to teachers. If the patient is an older adult, they may also interview a spouse or family member. Personal experience can provide information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires. Some doctors rush through this process or insist on only seeing a patient one time instead of completing a full examination. This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis. If the clinician is too fundamentalist about the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and insists that a patient has to show more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis it's an indication of trouble. The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist, and then provide examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluator will then compare the ratings to the checklist and assesses for ADHD. It's often a relief for some adults to get an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions -like guilt for not living up to expectations, or regret that the disorder wasn't recognized until later in life -are often complicated. The impulsivity and inattention that are characteristic of ADHD can have a significant impact in many areas of the life of a person, including relationships, work and health. The Tests Finding an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It involves a lot paperwork, interviews, and tests. You can prepare by obtaining recommendations from trusted doctors family members, friends and relatives. Research the specialist's credentials and make sure they are a match for your needs. It is crucial to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best treatment possible. The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator will want to know how your symptoms impact your life and whether they impact school, work or relationships. The evaluator may also use ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These usually comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you several questions. For instance, you could be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or be asked how often you interrupt others. Many evaluators will also ask people who know you and your child well to fill out questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses and siblings for children. It could be coaches, teachers, nannies or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a survey. Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental impairments contribute to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis that is in the beginning. They might even screen for medical conditions that are underlying such as hypothyroidism or seizures. Some evaluators will provide you or your child an ADHD screening test that tests how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computer-based test approved by the FDA that tests your ability to pay close attention and recall a variety of geometric shapes. The evaluator will look at how often you react to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to react to the stimuli you are targeting. This will help the evaluators identify the type of ADHD you have: Inattentive or impulsive. Follow-up Multiple mental health professionals are able to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations. adhd diagnosed can include a psychiatrist, psychologist psychotherapist, neurologist, or psychotherapist. The specialist will ask you what your concerns are and how long these problems have been affecting you for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. It is thought that the disorder is 70%-80% heritable and that genes play a big role in whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms. The professional will be interested in how your your child's ADHD impacts your daily life at home, work and school. He will ask about your or your child's behavior in different settings, because the symptoms of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child will also be required to show at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that affects everyday functioning. The symptoms must last for at least six months. To make a correct diagnosis, the specialist will have to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric disorders, such as mood and anxiety disorders and intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical disorders that affect brain function, for example thyroid problems, can be considered. The doctor will also inquire about your child's or your own habits of sleep and any injuries or accidents in the past that may have affected your child or your own brain development. He will also consider whether your your child's ADHD symptoms are related to any other health issues or medications you or your child is taking. For instance, stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD may cause side effects, such as stomachaches and insomnia. These side effects could also be caused by other medications, including sleep medications, antidepressants and certain sleep aids. The expert will also need to determine if there is an underlying comorbidity. This means you or your child may be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This can include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will look over the information and make the diagnosis.