10 Tips For Getting An ADHD Diagnosis That Are Unexpected Getting an ADHD Diagnosis

A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It explains why some people struggle with staying organized and following directions, or staying focused.

Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Contact your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.

The Diagnosis Process

A psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialist nurse will need to assess adults in order to establish a correct diagnosis. These are the only healthcare providers who can diagnose ADHD in adults.

An in-depth interview about you and your symptoms is often the first step in a preliminary evaluation. The healthcare professional might also inquire about how long you've been suffering from symptoms and how they impact you. They may ask you to talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms.

The evaluation process will also include questions about your childhood. The current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder was present in the early years of childhood. Therefore, the healthcare professional will want to examine your school records and speak to people who knew you when you were an infant. They will also ask if you have ever had any mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

In some cases an evaluator could suggest cognitive tests like IQ tests or tests for memory or learning problems. They may also recommend that you undergo other types of medical tests to rule out any physical conditions which could be causing your symptoms.

If the healthcare professional is convinced that your symptoms are due to ADHD They will suggest additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine its severity. These tests may include urine and blood tests as well as a medical examination and possibly educational or psychological tests.

Tests will be used to measure levels of certain chemicals that are associated with ADHD in your body, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. They will also check your heart rate and blood pressure. They may also give you the spirometry test, which measures your lung capacity. They might also suggest a brain imaging scan to determine if there are any functional or structural problems. In some cases the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be evaluated for other conditions that may have similar symptoms to ADHD, such as depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders.

The Interview

There are a variety of ADHD quizzes and questions that you can use to test your knowledge, before making an appointment with your doctor. These tests can help you recognize that you suffer from ADHD however a doctor's clinical interview is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.

The process could last between 2 to 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient the concept of ADHD and its possible effects on their symptoms. The physician may also inquire about a history or depression or substance abuse as these problems can co-occur along 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. In addition, the clinician will need to look over the school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult spouse or family members could also be questioned. Personal experience can reveal information that is not possible to obtain through questionnaires.

Some doctors are overloaded and don't bother with this step or they may insist on seeing a patient only once, instead of conducting an extensive evaluation. This could lead a doctor to make a wrong diagnosis. This is a red flag in the event that the physician is too rigid in their criteria to diagnose ADHD.

For adults, the evaluator might request the patient to fill out ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and then provide examples of how the symptoms have affected the patient's life. The evaluator compares the ratings to the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.

It can be a relief for some adults to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis. But the underlying emotions -- such as guilt for failing to live up to expectations, or the grief that the disorder wasn't noticed until later in life -are often complicated. ADHD is characterized by impulsivity and a lack of concentration. These traits can lead to serious consequences in many areas, including relationships as well as careers and health.

The Tests

Getting an ADHD diagnosis can be a difficult and confusing process. It involves a lot of paperwork as well as tests, interviews and other forms of testing. The best method to prepare is to get recommendations from friends, family and doctors you are confident with. Research the specialist's credentials and ensure that they are a match for your needs. It is crucial 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.

The initial step of an ADHD assessment is an interview with the evaluation expert. The evaluation will ask questions about your child or you to collect information about your symptoms. The evaluator wants to know how symptoms affect you and if they impact your schoolwork, work or social relationships. The evaluator could also employ rating scales to assess your ADHD symptoms. They typically comprise checklists that ask you or someone around you a series of questions. You may be asked if you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt others.

Many evaluators also ask people who are familiar with your child or you to complete questionnaires on what they have observed. Adults could be asked to complete questionnaires by their spouses or siblings. Children may be required to complete questionnaires by coaches, teachers, daycare workers, or nannies. go!! can reveal information that is not possible to gather from a questionnaire.


The evaluators can also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have learning or mental disorders are contributing factors to your symptoms. They might also look for mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis that is in the beginning. They might also test for underlying conditions such as seizures and hypothyroidism.

Some evaluators may give you or your children an ADHD screening test to measure your response to stimuli that are targeted and non-target. 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 the geometric shapes of a set of. The examiner will look at the frequency at which you respond to non-target stimuli, and how long it takes for you to respond to targeted stimuli. This can help evaluators determine if you suffer from impulsive ADHD or inattentive ADHD.

The Follow-Up

Multiple mental health professionals are qualified to diagnose ADHD and provide ADHD evaluations. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapist, or neurologist. The doctor will want to know what your concerns are and how long the issues have been present for. The specialist will also ask whether there any family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genes play an important role in whether your child or you experience symptoms.

The specialist 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 environments, since the signs of ADHD are different when they are encountered in different settings. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you or your child be required to show at least six symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity that hinders everyday functioning. It must last for at minimum six months.

To assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis, he must exclude other conditions. These may include psychiatric disorders that are not listed including mood and anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities and certain medical disorders that affect the brain, like thyroid disorders. Additionally, the doctor will inquire about your child's sleeping patterns and any previous accidents or injuries that may have affected the development of your child's brain.

The doctor will also determine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications that you or your child take. For example, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD may result in side effects like stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. Other drugs, such as antidepressants and certain sleep medications are also prone to these adverse effects.

The doctor will also have to determine if there's a comorbidity. This means that you or your child could be suffering from another illness that could cause symptoms of ADHD. This could include depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will review the information and then make an assessment.