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ADHD Diagnosis The process of diagnosing ADHD in adults can be trickier than diagnosing children. A reliable diagnosis begins with a consultation with an expert in ADHD. It is recommended to bring any medical or academic documents to your appointment. You may also bring questionnaires and rating scales that provide information about your symptoms. Signs and symptoms A doctor will conduct a physical exam and interview you to determine if ADHD is present. The evaluator may ask questions about a person's family history and childhood and use checklists to document symptoms. The evaluator will also review documents from the workplace and school, and may want to talk with teachers or other people who are close to 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 are that the individual must have had several symptoms for atleast six months and that they occur in multiple settings, like at school and at home. The evaluator will also be looking for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, like anxiety, depression or a thyroid problem. Adults will be evaluated to determine the severity of their symptoms and the impact they have on their work or social lives. The evaluator will also inquire about how the individual feels about their symptoms and how much they impact daily life. Many people with ADHD cannot remember when their problems began. For that reason, an expert will typically interview someone who is familiar with the person for example, a spouse or sibling for an adult; parents or teachers for children. The assessor may employ checklists for adults, and for children, a list of behaviors to be on the lookout for. 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 designed to prevent people with ADHD who were diagnosed as kids from being mistakenly diagnosed with other disorders, like depression or anxiety. Medical History If you suspect that your child or yourself suffer from ADHD The first step is to speak with an expert who will perform an exhaustive assessment. Talk to your doctor or mental health expert in your area for recommendations, or search the phone book for "psychiatry" and "psychology." You can also join a support group for adults with ADHD, as many of them have worked with local experts who can offer referrals. A healthcare professional will look over a person's medical history and family background during the ADHD diagnostic assessment. They will inquire about what the symptoms hinder functioning in different situations, including at home, at work, or with relationships. It is crucial to determine the severity of the symptoms since the APA's guidelines for ADHD state that symptoms require significant impairment in order to be diagnosed. The healthcare professional will talk to the patient, but may request information from parents, siblings, and friends who know him. Some healthcare professionals will ask people to complete questionnaires or ratings scales, such as ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized behavior ratings. Teachers and other caregivers are often useful sources of information too. It is important to assess the extent to which the individual's symptoms interfere in a variety of environments, as the APA's diagnostic guidelines note that symptoms have to occur frequently and affect performance. This is essential due to the fact that other conditions, such as mood disorders and learning disabilities may present similar to ADHD (Austerman, 2015). In addition medical exams can be performed to identify other possible causes of the symptoms, including thyroid problems, vision and hearing issues, or the use of certain drugs like stimulants or sedatives. Family History In some instances there are instances where the family history of ADHD is a crucial aspect in obtaining the diagnosis. adhd diagnostic assessment is a hereditary 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 have a complete understanding of the symptoms of their patients, which includes whether or not they happen in work, school or in social settings. A doctor should also be able to determine the extent of how symptoms impact the person's everyday functioning. This is a more accurate method than simply examining symptom counts or examining the patient's intelligence. For teenagers and children, a doctor may interview the child or teen and their parents. In many cases, a pediatrician or psychiatrist is trained to evaluate and treatment of ADHD. A mental health specialist who has extensive experience in ADHD is required to conduct a thorough interview for adults. A thorough assessment usually includes a physical exam which can rule out certain health conditions that can cause similar symptoms as ADHD. A complete medical history is also gathered. For children, this can include medical and school records and an evaluation of psychological health by a school counselor or psychologist. Old school records can be useful for adults to determine whether symptoms started in childhood. In the case of diagnosing adults with psychiatric disorders, it is particularly important to determine if the symptoms impact the daily activities. A thorough psychiatric exam could be required that includes questionnaires and rating scales for the patient and caregivers, a psychotherapy interview and a referral to a medical exam. In addition assessment of neuropsychological or psychometric factors is often used for adults to determine if the symptoms are linked to learning disorders and other cognitive impairments. Interviews A healthcare professional will speak with you or your child about their problems at home, school and in the community. The provider will also ask about your or your child's past medical, family and personal history and will look over any records you may bring with you including old school report cards. This information will assist the doctor to decide if you or your child is eligible to take a test to diagnose 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, which includes both at home and school. The ratings should be provided by those who know your child and yourself well, including teachers, coaches, religious leaders, scouts and parents. To be diagnosed with ADHD children and adults must exhibit behavior that is a source of distress and hinders everyday functioning in multiple situations, like at school, at work or playing. The symptoms should manifest in the early years of childhood, usually before the age of 12. They cannot be caused by any other mental health disorder. The sensitivity and precision of ADHD evaluations can be improved by using psychometric and neuropsychological tests that measure IQ and cognitive performance. They should be used alongside a clinician's interview and rating scales as part of a comprehensive assessment plan. These tests could include the use of a standardized questionnaire, such as the ADHD Diagnostic Interview for Adults (DIVA) or an adaptive test that is computerized that allows for measurement of the speed of response, short-term memory and executive functions. In the near future, technology that is digital, such as virtual reality and head movement sensors for continuous performance tests could help improve the ecological validity by giving people the opportunity to immerse into their natural environment instead of being in a clinic. Tests If your doctor or mental health professional suspects ADHD, he or she might refer you to an ADHD specialist. A thorough assessment should include an extensive interview, data from independent sources like your spouse or significant others, and standardized behavior rating scales for ADHD. Based on the clinical impression the evaluator could also request tests to check for other conditions that could influence your symptoms, including depression, learning disabilities or a medical condition. A thorough ADHD evaluation requires the evaluator to determine whether your symptoms are significantly impairing your life and functioning. The impairment can occur in a variety of settings, including your workplace, home or school, and social relationships. The examiner should inquire about what your symptoms have affected you in each situation. This will assist the evaluator identify the cause and make treatment recommendations. In addition to the symptom rating, a complete assessment will typically include one or more standardized performance test for ADHD. These tests are based on research that compares the behavior of people suffering from ADHD to those who do not. These instruments improve on the limitations of a traditional clinical interview because they focus more on specific behaviors than an individual's overall functioning. These tests can also aid in identifying when an individual is being disingenuous or attempting to cheat on the test which has been recognized for a number of years in the field of neuropsychological testing. In addition to the standard test and the symptom rating scales as well as the symptom rating scales, an extensive ADHD evaluation should include brain scans and other imaging procedures for neurological disorders. However these tests aren't routinely used in a clinical setting because they are expensive and expose patients to ionizing radiation.
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