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https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life It explains why some people have difficulty staying focused in their work following directions or staying focused Ask your family doctor or therapist for a referral to an expert Also make sure to inquire with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults The Diagnosis Process For adults a correct diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist psychologist or specialist nurse 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 will want to know the length of time your symptoms have been present and how they impact your daily life They might also suggest that you talk to your family member or close friend about your symptoms The process of evaluation could also include questions regarding your childhood The current guidelines do allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without evidence that the disorder was present during childhood Therefore the healthcare professional will want to look over your school records and speak to those who knew you when you were a child Theyll also ask if you have experienced any other mental health problems like depression or anxiety In certain instances the evaluator may recommend cognitive testing like IQ tests or tests for learning or memory problems They may also recommend other medical exams to rule out physical conditions that might be causing your symptoms like seizures or thyroid disorders If a healthcare professional believes that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they will recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity These tests will likely include blood and urine tests a medical exam and possibly psychological or educational tests The tests are designed to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be related to ADHD like dopamine norepinephrine and serotonin They will also test your blood pressure and heart rate You may also be offered a spirometry which measures lung capacity They may also recommend that you undergo an examination of your brain to look for functional or structural abnormalities In certain instances the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD like anxiety and depression or mood and personality disorders The Interview There are plenty of ADHD questions and quizzes that can be used as a screening instrument before you make an appointment with a doctor These tests could provide you with the information that you have ADHD However a doctors clinical interview is the only way 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 may affect their symptoms It could also include the clinician asking about a past history of depression or abuse of substances as those problems are often cooccurring with ADHD A good diagnostic interview will involve a discussion of the patients symptoms and their impact and the psychologist or psychiatrist will use a checklist designed to evaluate hyperactivityimpulsivity and inattentiveness The clinician will also want to look over the students school records and discuss the situation with teachers If the patient is an adult or spouse a family member could also be questioned Personal insight can uncover facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires Some doctors are in a rush and skip this step or they may insist on seeing a patient just one time rather than carrying out an entire evaluation This could lead to a misdiagnosis This is a redflag in the event that the physician is too rigid in their criteria for diagnosing ADHD The evaluator may ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these symptoms have affected their lives The evaluator compares the scores to the checklist and evaluates for ADHD It can be a relief for some adults to finally be given an ADHD diagnosis But the underlying emotions such as guilt over not meeting expectations or grief that the disorder was not noticed until later in life can be complicated diagnosis adhd and impulsivity that are characteristic of ADHD can have a significant impact throughout the life of a person including relationships work and health The Tests It can be difficult and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews as well as tests The best way to prepare is to get recommendations from family friends and doctors you are confident with Research the specialists credentials and ensure that theyre a good match for your requirements It is important to find a professional who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD This will ensure that your child or you receives an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluation expert The evaluator might ask you or your child questions to learn more about your symptoms The evaluator will want to know how the symptoms impact your daily life and if they affect work school or relationships The evaluator could also employ rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series of questions For instance you could be asked if you often miss appointments or be asked how often you interrupt other people Many evaluators also ask people who know you and your child well to complete questionnaires regarding their observations of your behavior Adults might be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses children or parents Children may be asked to complete questionnaires by coaches teachers daycare workers or parents Personal insight can uncover information that cannot be gleaned from a questionnaire The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine whether learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms They may also screen for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder depression or incipient psychosis They might also test for underlying conditions such as seizure disorders and hypothyroidism Some evaluators will give your child or you an ADHD screening test that measures the way you react to target and nontarget stimuli The TOVA Timed On Only Visual Attention is a computerbased test that has been approved by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention to detail and remember a number of geometric shapes The test examines the frequency at which you respond to nontargeted stimuli and the time it takes you to respond to targeted stimuli This can help evaluaters determine which type of ADHD you have either Inattentive or impulsive The FollowUp Several kinds of mental health professionals are able to provide ADHD assessments and provide a diagnosis This could include psychologists psychiatrists psychotherapist or neurologist The specialist will ask you what your concerns are and how long they have been occurring for He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD It is thought that the disorder is 70 to 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 knowing how your or your childs ADHD impacts your daily life such as at work home and at school He will ask you or your child about their behavior in various situations because ADHD symptoms differ in different settings To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD you or your child must have at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity inattention or the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis they must rule out other conditions Other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities may be included Certain medical conditions that affect brain function like thyroid problems can also be considered In addition the specialist will inquire about your childs sleep patterns and any accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your or your childs brain The doctor will also examine whether the signs of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child are taking For instance stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can result in side effects like stomachaches and difficulty sleeping Other medications like antidepressants and some sleep medicines may also cause these side effects Finally the expert will determine if a comorbidity is present which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder depression anxiety disorder or an eating disorder The psychologist or psychiatrist will review the information and determine a diagnosis