How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis
To determine an ADHD diagnosis your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and use an assessment scale. The ratings are based upon a set guidelines for diagnosing ADHD among children, teens, and adults.
The rating scale asks questions like whether you fumble and how often you are distracted by thoughts that are not related to your current situation. The doctor will also review your family history and old school records.
Self-assessment
The untreated symptoms of ADHD can lead to problems at work, school, and in relationships. It can be difficult to diagnose the condition, especially in adults. Adults may develop coping strategies over time that make their symptoms less apparent. It is also possible for doctors to differentiate between ADHD symptoms in childhood and those of adults. Adults with ADHD are often not diagnosed.
Self-assessment is a great method to determine if your symptoms are consistent or not with ADHD. The test involves answering a set of questions and you will be awarded scores. The test is simple to use and will help you determine if you should seek medical care. Self-assessments can help you track your symptoms over time.
Be sure to use a reputable resource when using an online ADHD test. Find an assessment tool created by a healthcare organization or GP and designed by mental health experts. It is crucial to answer the questions in a honest manner. The more honest you are, the more accurate the results will be.
There are other methods to determine ADHD among adults besides self-assessments. Health professionals can conduct assessments based on interviews or physical examinations and examine your medical history. They can also conduct brain scans, which measure the electrical activity in your brain. In certain instances doctors may even suggest treatment.
The Symptom Checklist for Adults (SCAS) is a tool that helps to identify signs of ADHD in adults. This tool has high criterion valid meaning that it is highly predicative of an ADHD diagnosis. In fact, the SCAS is a popular screener that is recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization.
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale is another instrument. This scale includes questions about inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive. It is easy to use and only takes a few moments to complete. The ASRS is based on the DSM-5 which is the official manual used by psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders. It is accessible on the Web however it is not available for free.
Diagnosis
If you suspect that your child or adult has ADHD the next step is to seek an assessment from a health care specialist. You can start by contact the customer service department of your health plan to locate someone who is an expert in ADHD. They can give you the names of specialists covered by your insurance or recommend professional organizations that could provide recommendations. You can also ask your friends and family members for recommendations or look online for lists.
The doctor will inquire about your symptoms in order to diagnose ADHD. They typically use an adapted version of a well-known symptom rating scale. Some are specifically designed for children while others are targeted toward adults. The doctor could also conduct interviews with people who know you or your children well including spouses, parents siblings, teachers, and parents for kids. This can provide additional insights into the behavior of your child or yourself that you might not have been able communicate.
Your doctor might also inquire about your medical history and do a physical exam. This can help them determine other conditions that might be similar to the symptoms of ADHD, such as a thyroid problem or seizure disorder. They may also conduct mental health screenings, such as for mood and anxiety disorders, or learning disabilities.
The most important thing to do when getting an ADHD diagnosis is to conduct an interview with a psychiatrist. The doctor must decide that your child's or your child's symptoms meet the guidelines set by the American Psychiatric Association in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM. You or your child should display symptomatic behavior in at minimum two settings, including home, school and at work. The behavior must also be so debilitating that it affects daily functioning. They must also display symptomatic behavior that started before age 12, and it can't be caused by any other disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
Treatment
A mental health specialist or health care professional is the first step to getting an ADHD diagnosis. This is essential because other conditions like anxiety or depression can mimic symptoms of ADHD. Seeing a specialist will help ensure that you are diagnosed accurately and treated appropriately.
The health care professional will examine the medical history of the patient as well as their family history to determine an assessment. They will also examine the person's behavior and the school experience. This could include interviews or questionnaires with the person's teachers, parents or babysitters. These questionnaires are based on research that compares behaviors of people with ADHD to those of people without it. These are often referred to as rating scales. The scores are based on the frequency at which the person exhibits the three symptoms of an impulsiveness (impulsiveness), inattention (inattention) and hyperactivity. The number of questions and the method by which scores are calculated differs between different tests.
Other tests are used to measure the way in which a person learns and thinks. Broad-spectrum scales can be used to screen for emotional, social, and psychiatric problems as well. They are especially useful for children as it is common to get someone wrongly diagnosed with ADHD even though they may suffer from other conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or learning disabilities.
Interviewing the child's teacher is an important part of a thorough evaluation. Talking to the child's doctor or other trusted adults is a good idea. In addition, a sleep diary can be very helpful in determining ADHD. ADHD symptoms are often exacerbated due to poor sleep. Having a regular bedtime and sleeping at the same time each night can be helpful.
The treatment for adults with ADHD is similar to the treatment for children. In most cases, medication and therapy are combined. Therapy can help teach life skills, improve communication in the family and help people develop more effective strategies for coping. Therapy can also aid in addressing issues that arise when one family member has ADHD. These problems could be financial issues, apathy to responsibilities at home or work as well as conflicts over impulsive choices.
Medication
The goal of medication is to help people who suffer from ADHD stay on task and perform better. Some individuals find that stimulantslike Ritalin, Adderall or Strattera -- work best for them. Some people discover that non-stimulant drugs like clonidine or dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) can help.
Before you give your child or you any medication, your healthcare provider will want to know about your symptoms and about your family and personal medical history. I Am Psychiatry may suggest physical examinations to look for any health issues.
Make a list of symptoms for yourself or your child. Bring it to your appointment along with any medical or psychiatric documents you might have.
A psychiatric specialist will employ rating scales to judge the behavior of you or your child. These scales of rating are built on research that compares behaviors of people with ADHD to those of people who are not. Your doctor may also inquire about how often you see your child or yourself displaying certain symptoms daily. Your doctor will translate your scores into percentiles, and then evaluate the effects of the symptoms on your daily life.
If you're an adult, your physician will likely look at your professional and personal past and will inquire about any alcohol or drugs abuse you might have had, as well as any problems at home or at the workplace. Adults should have fewer symptoms than children, 5 out of 9 in the last six months.
The examiner may also ask other people who know you, like your parents, spouse, or other relatives, as well as teachers or colleagues. The examiner will inquire about the frequency and severity of your or your child's issues, how they affect your or your child's performance at school or at work and whether you or your child is experiencing any problems in relationships or financially.
You or your child may be prescribed a certain dosage of medication. The dosage will be adjusted as necessary. When you are taking stimulant medications, always be sure to read the label thoroughly and only take according to the directions. It is essential to strictly follow your doctor's instructions when you are taking stimulants.