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https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can alter your life This is why some people have issues like staying focused in their work following directions and remaining organized Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you an expert Contact your insurance company to see if it covers ADHD evaluations for adult patients Diagnosis Process A psychologist psychiatrist or specialist nurse will be required to examine adults to establish a correct diagnosis They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine the presence of ADHD among adults An indepth interview about you and your symptoms is often the first step in the initial assessment The healthcare professional might be able to inquire about the length of time youve been suffering from symptoms and how they impact your life They may also ask to speak to your family member or close friend about your symptoms The evaluation process may also include questions about your childhood Because current guidelines do not allow a physician to diagnose ADHD in adults without proof of the disorders presence in childhood the healthcare professional may wish to look at your school records or talk with teachers or other individuals who knew you as a kid They will also ask whether youve had any mental health issues such as anxiety or depression In some cases the evaluator may suggest cognitive testing such as IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning problems They might also suggest other types of medical exams to rule out physical conditions that might be causing your symptoms such as thyroid disorders or seizure problems If the healthcare professional is confident that your symptoms are related to ADHD they will recommend additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity These tests may include urine and blood tests a medical examination and possibly educational or psychological testing The tests are used to determine the concentrations of certain chemicals within your body that could be linked to ADHD such as serotonin norepinephrine and dopamine They will also check your heart rate and blood pressure You may also be given a spirometry which measures lung capacity They might also suggest that you undergo a brain scan to check for structural or functional abnormalities In some cases the evaluator might recommend that you or your child be tested for other conditions that have similar symptoms similar to ADHD such as depression and anxiety or mood and personality disorders The Interview There are many ADHD tests and quizzes that you can use as a screening tool before making an appointment with your doctor These tests can be helpful in alerting you to the possibility of ADHD however the only way to get a diagnosis is with an expert medical professional who conducts a thorough clinical interview and doesnt rush into prescribing drugs This process can take about 2 to 3 hours It includes a time spent explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could influence their symptoms The clinician may also ask about a history or substance abuse or depression as these problems can cooccur along 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 In addition the clinician will need to look over school records and interview teachers If the patient is an older adult they could also interview a spouse or a family member Personal insight can reveal details that are not available through questionnaires Some doctors are overloaded and do not complete this step or they may insist on seeing a patient only once rather than conducting an entire examination This could lead to a confusion about the diagnosis This is a red flag in the event that the physician is too rigid in their criteria to diagnose ADHD The evaluator could ask adults to rate each symptom they see on an ADHD checklist and then give examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives The assessor will then compare the scores with the checklist and assess for ADHD Its often a relief for some adults to get an ADHD diagnosis But the underlying emotions like guilt for not meeting expectations or grief that the disorder wasnt noticed until later in life can be complicated The inattention and impulsivity that are typical of ADHD can have serious implications in many areas of the life of a person including relationships work and health The Tests It can be difficult and confusing to receive an ADHD diagnosis It requires a lot of paperwork as well as interviews and tests You can prepare by getting advice from trusted doctors family members friends and relatives Research the specialists credentials and make sure they are a match for your requirements It is essential to find a doctor who is specialized in diagnosing ADHD This will ensure that your child or you receives a precise diagnosis and the most effective treatment The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an evaluator The assessor will ask questions of your child or yourself to gather information about your symptoms The evaluator wants to know how your symptoms impact your life and if they affect school work or relationships The evaluator might also employ rating scales that measure your ADHD symptoms They usually consist of checklists that ask you or someone close to you to answer a series of questions You might be asked whether you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt others Many evaluators will also ask people who are familiar with your child or you to fill out questionnaires regarding what they have observed For adults this could be spouses or siblings for children it could be coaches teachers and nannies or daycare workers Personal insight can uncover information that cannot be gleaned from a survey Some evaluators will also perform cognitive tests to determine if learning or intellectual disabilities contribute to your symptoms They could also test for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse They might also test for underlying conditions like seizure disorders and hypothyroidism Some evaluators will provide you or your child an ADHD screening test that measures the way you react to target and nontarget stimuli For instance the TOVA Timed OnOnly Visual Attention is an FDAapproved computerbased test that tests your ability to pay attention and recall geometric shapes The test examines how often you respond to nontarget stimuli and the length of time it takes you to react to the target stimuli This can help evaluators determine whether you have an impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD Followup Multiple mental health professionals are certified to diagnose ADHD and offer ADHD evaluations This could include a psychiatrist psychologist psychotherapist or neurologist The specialist will want know the cause of your concern and how long the problems have been occurring executive function will also ask about any family history of ADHD It is believed that the disorder is about 70 to 80 percent inheritable and that genes play a big role in whether you or your child is likely to suffer symptoms He will inquire about how ADHD affects you or your child at home school and at work He will ask about your or your childs behavior in different situations as the signs of ADHD are different when they occur in different environments To be diagnosed with ADHD either you or your child be required to show six or more symptoms of hyperactivity inattention or impulsivity that interferes with everyday functioning The symptoms must last for at least six months To make a correct diagnosis the doctor must rule out other conditions out These may include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above such as anxiety and mood disorders intellectual disabilities and certain medical conditions that affect the brain for example thyroid disorders In addition the specialist will inquire about your or your childs sleeping patterns as well as any previous accidents or injuries that could have affected the development of your childs brain The doctor will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child take For instance stimulant medications used to treat ADHD can cause side effects such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping These side effects could also be caused by other medications including sleep medications antidepressants and certain sleep aids The expert will determine if a comorbidity present which means that your child or you has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD such as bipolar disorder depression anxiety disorder or eating disorder The psychologist or psychiatrist will review the information and determine a diagnosis