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ADHD Diagnosis Diagnosing ADHD in adults can be more difficult than diagnosing ADHD in children. An accurate diagnosis begins with a thorough interview conducted by an expert in ADHD. Bring any medical or academic records with you to your appointment. It's also helpful to bring rating scales and interviews that can provide information regarding your symptoms. Symptoms A doctor will conduct a physical examination and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator will ask questions about the person's family and childhood, and may use checklists to document the person's symptoms. The evaluator will also go over the records of work and school and may wish to speak with teachers or other individuals who interact with the person. The evaluator will use the official lists of symptoms for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity to determine whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. The criteria is that the person has several symptoms for at least 6 months, and that the symptoms are present in more than one location — such as at home and at work or school. The evaluator may also check for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms such as anxiety or depression. In adults the evaluator will evaluate how severe the symptoms are and how they affect social or work life. The evaluator may also inquire about what their feelings are about their symptoms and whether they impact their daily activities. Many people who suffer from ADHD are unable to remember whether their problems began in the early years or later. This is why an expert will typically interview someone who is familiar with the person for example, an adult sibling or spouse for an adult; a parent or teacher for children. The examiner can use checklists to examine adults as well as a list of behaviors for children. Contrary to previous diagnostic guidelines the adult can't be diagnosed with ADHD until symptoms begin to manifest prior to the age of 12. This change is intended to prevent people with ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, like depression and anxiety. Medical History If you suspect that your child or yourself has ADHD The first step is to consult an expert who can perform an exhaustive evaluation. Consult your doctor or mental health specialist in your area for recommendations or search the phone book for “psychiatry” and “psychology.” You can also reach out to an adult ADHD support group, as many will have worked with local specialists who are able to provide recommendations. During the ADHD diagnostic evaluation, a healthcare professional will look over the patient's medical and family history. They will inquire about the impact of the symptoms on functioning in different settings, like at work, home or in relationships. It is essential to determine the severity of the symptoms because the APA's diagnostic guidelines for ADHD note that the symptoms must cause significant impairment for the diagnosis to be made. The healthcare professional will usually interview the patient, but they may also ask to talk to parents, siblings, and other family members who are familiar with him. Some professionals will have people fill out questionnaires or rating scales, such as ADHD symptom checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers can be valuable sources of information too. The APA's Diagnostic Guidelines say that symptoms should be frequent and interfere with performance. This is vital, as other conditions such as mood disorders or learning disabilities may present in a similar way to ADHD (Austerman 2015). A medical examination can be conducted to determine if there are any other possible reasons for the symptoms. These include thyroid problems and hearing or vision issues, or medication like stimulants and sedatives. Family History In some cases the presence of ADHD in the family can be a major factor in determining a diagnosis. It is a highly heritable condition, and a thorough examination of the patient's and his or her relatives histories can help determine whether there is a family pattern. It is crucial that healthcare professionals get a complete picture about the symptoms of their patients, including whether or not they are present in work, school or in social situations. A doctor should also be able to determine the degree to which symptoms affect the patient's daily activities. This is a more accurate test than simply looking at the number of symptoms or examining a patient's IQ. For teens and children, a doctor can interview the child or teen and their parents. In many instances, a psychiatrist or pediatrician specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist with a vast knowledge of ADHD is required to conduct a thorough interview for adults. A thorough assessment includes a physical examination which can help rule out certain conditions that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. A complete medical history is also obtained. For children, this could include previous medical and school records, as well as an evaluation of the psychological state by school counselors or psychologists. School records from the past can be helpful to adults to determine if symptoms began in the early years of. If you are diagnosing an adult in particular, it is crucial to determine if the symptoms affect everyday functioning. A thorough psychiatric exam could be required that includes rating scales and questionnaires by the patient and caregivers, a clinical interview, and a referral for medical examination. Additionally assessment of neuropsychological or psychometric factors is sometimes used for adults to determine how the symptoms are related to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments. Interviews A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child about problems at home, school and in the community. The provider will ask about your child's medical, family, and personal history, and will also review any documents you might bring with you, such as old school report cards. This information will enable the doctor to determine if you or your child needs to undergo an assessment for ADHD. Your provider will use rating scales to identify if you or your child meets criteria for ADHD, including six established symptoms in the two main categories of the disorder — inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. The ratings are typically conducted over a six-month period, and include both the school and at home. The evaluations must be conducted by those who are familiar with your your child's behaviors, such as teachers and religious leaders, scout and Scout leaders, coaches, and parents. To be diagnosed with ADHD children and adults must exhibit a symptomatic behavior that is a source of distress and hinders daily functioning in multiple situations, like at school, at work or playing. Symptoms should start in the early years of childhood, usually before 12 years of age. They cannot be caused by any other mental health condition. The sensitivity and precision of ADHD assessments can be enhanced by using neuropsychological and psychometric tests that measure IQ and cognitive functioning. However, they should only be used as part of an assessment process that includes a clinician interview and rating scales. These assessments can include the administration a standardized test, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults or a computerized test method that tests executive functions, short-term memories and reaction speed. In the near future, digital technology like virtual reality and head movement sensors for continuous performance tests may help improve ecological validity by allowing people to be immersed into their surroundings instead of sitting in a clinic. Tests Your GP or mental health professional could recommend you to a specialist if he or she suspects ADHD. A complete evaluation will include a thorough interview, information from other sources like your spouse or significant others and the standardized scales of behavior ratings for ADHD. Depending on the clinical impression, the evaluator may conduct tests to test for other conditions that may affect your symptoms, like depression, learning disabilities or a medical illness. To conduct an accurate ADHD evaluation, the evaluator must determine if your symptoms have a significant impact on your life and functioning. The problem can manifest in many different settings, like at home at work, at school, or in your social connections. The examiner should inquire about what your symptoms have affected you in each situation. This will allow the evaluator to determine a diagnosis and formulate treatment recommendations. A complete assessment will include, in addition to symptoms ratings and standardized performance tests for ADHD. These tests are based on research that examines the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those who don't. affordable adhd assessment enhance the limitations of a traditional clinical interview because they focus more on specific behavior rather than an individual's overall functioning. These measures can also help assessors determine if the person is not being honest or trying to cheat on the test this issue has been recognized for many years in the field of neuropsychological testing. In addition to the standardized test and the symptom rating scales and symptom rating scales, a thorough ADHD assessment should include brain scans or other neurological imaging procedures. However, these tests are not routinely used in a clinical setting due to the cost and expose patients to ionizing radiation.