Getting an ADHD Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with an ADHD diagnosis can be a life altering experience. It explains why some individuals have difficulty staying in control and following directions, or staying focused.
Ask your family physician or therapy provider to refer you an expert. Also be sure to check with your insurance to see if they will cover ADHD evaluations for adults.
The Diagnosis Process

A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will need to evaluate adults in order to make a proper diagnosis. These are the only healthcare professionals who can diagnose ADHD in adults.
Often, an initial assessment will begin with a thorough interview about your life and the symptoms. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine the length of time your symptoms have been a problem and how they affect you. They might suggest that you talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms.
The evaluation process will also include questions about your childhood. Since current guidelines don't permit a doctor to diagnose ADHD in adults without evidence of the disorder's 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 child. They will also ask whether you've ever experienced any mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
In certain instances an evaluator might suggest cognitive tests, like IQ tests or tests for learning or memory problems. They might also suggest different types of medical tests to rule out physical conditions that may be creating your symptoms, like seizures or thyroid issues.
If your doctor is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD they might suggest additional tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests will likely include urine and blood tests, medical examinations and, possibly, psychological or educational testing.
The tests are used to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that might be related to ADHD like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also assess your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which will measure the lung capacity of your. They may also suggest that you undergo an MRI of your brain to check for functional or structural abnormalities. In certain instances your evaluator could suggest that you or your child be tested for conditions that share similar symptoms with ADHD, like anxiety and depression, or mood and personality disorders.
The Interview
There are a variety of ADHD tests and quizzes that you can use as a screening tool, before scheduling an appointment with your doctor. These tests may provide you with the information that you have ADHD However, a doctor's clinical interview is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
This process can take 2 to 3 hours and includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it could affect their symptoms. The doctor may also inquire about any history of addiction to drugs or depression since 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 be required to review school records and interview teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be interviewed. Personal insight can reveal facts that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires.
Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, instead of conducting a full examination. This can lead doctors to make a wrong diagnosis. If the clinician is too firmly rooted in the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and stipulates that a patient needs to display more than six symptoms in order to receive a diagnosis this is an indication of trouble.
The evaluator can ask adults to rate each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how these afflictions have affected their lives. The evaluation will then compare the scores against the checklist and evaluate the severity of ADHD.
It's often a relief for some adults to finally be given an ADHD diagnosis. The underlying emotions, such as guilt or resentment for not achieving expectations or that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life, may be complicated. The impulsivity and inattention 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
Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and difficult process. It requires a lot of paperwork and interviews as well as tests. The best way to prepare is to seek recommendations from family, friends and doctors you are confident with. Examine the credentials of the doctor and make sure that they are a match for your requirements. It is essential to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This will ensure that you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best possible treatment.
An interview with the evaluation expert is the first step in an ADHD assessment. The assessor will ask questions of your child or you to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how your symptoms impact your life and whether they impact school, work or relationships. getting a adhd diagnosis ADHD Diagnosis may also use rating scales to measure your ADHD symptoms. These are typically checklists in which you or someone you know is asked a series questions. For example, you might be asked if it is common to forget appointments, or you might be asked how often you interrupt others.
Many evaluators also request people who know you or your child well to complete questionnaires about their observations of your behavior. For adults, this could include spouses or children for children. It could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal experience can reveal details that are not possible to obtain from a questionnaire.
Certain evaluators might also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental impairments are contributing to your symptoms. They may also test for mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder as well as for signs of psychosis in the early stages or drug abuse. They may also screen for underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or seizure disorders.
Certain evaluators might offer you or your children an ADHD screening test to gauge the way you react to non-target and target stimuli. For instance, the TOVA (Timed On-Only Visual Attention) is an FDA-approved computer-based test that tests your ability to pay attention and remember a series of geometric shapes. The examiner will look at the frequency with which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes you to respond to target stimuli. This can help evaluators determine the type of ADHD you have whether you are Inattentive or impulsive.
Follow-up
A variety of mental health professionals are able to offer ADHD evaluations and provide an assessment. It could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, psychologist or neurologist. The doctor will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the problems have been present for. He will also inquire about any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be between 70 and 80 percent heritable. Genes play an important influence on whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.
The expert will be interested in how your your child's ADHD affects your daily life at home, work, and school. He will inquire about your or your child's behavior across various situations, as the signs of ADHD differ when they occur in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child need to have at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that affects the daily activities. It must last for at minimum for six months.
To determine the correct diagnosis, the specialist will have to rule other conditions out. These may include psychiatric conditions that are not listed above such as mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, for example, thyroid disorders. In addition, the doctor will inquire about your or your child's sleeping patterns and any injuries or accidents that might have affected the development of your or your child's brain.
The doctor will also examine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are caused by any health condition or medications that you or your child take. The adverse effects of stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD can include stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects could also be caused by other medications like sleep medications, antidepressants, and some sleep aids.
The doctor will also have to determine whether there is a comorbidity. This means that you or your child may be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will go through all the information and determine the diagnosis.