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

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. It explains why people struggle with issues like staying focused on their task, following directions and staying organized.

Ask your family doctor or therapist to refer you to an expert. Also make sure to inquire with your insurance company to determine if they cover ADHD evaluations for adults.

Diagnosis Process

A psychologist, psychiatrist or specialist nurse will need to evaluate adults in order to make a proper diagnosis. They are the only healthcare professionals who can determine ADHD in adults.

A typical initial evaluation will start with a thorough interview about your lifestyle and symptoms. The healthcare professional will be looking to determine the length of time your symptoms have been present and how they affect your daily life. They might ask you to talk to a family member or friend about your symptoms.

The process of evaluation will also include questions regarding your childhood. Current guidelines allow doctors to diagnose ADHD without proving that the disorder was present during childhood. Therefore the healthcare professional will need to review your school records and speak to people who knew you when you were in your early years. They may also inquire if you have experienced any other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.

In certain situations the evaluator may suggest cognitive testing like IQ tests or assessments for memory or learning issues. They may also recommend different types of medical tests to rule out physical ailments that could be the cause of your symptoms, like seizures or thyroid disorders.

If your healthcare professional is certain that your symptoms are caused by ADHD, they may recommend additional diagnostic tests to confirm and determine the severity of the condition. These tests may include urine and blood tests, a medical exam, and perhaps educational or psychological tests.

The tests are designed to measure the levels of certain chemicals in your body that could be associated with ADHD like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. They will also examine your heart rate and blood pressure. They might also recommend a a spirometry test, which evaluates your lung capacity. They may also recommend an imaging scan of the brain to check for any functional or structural problems. In some cases the evaluator could recommend that you or your child be examined for other conditions that may have similar symptoms similar to ADHD like depression and anxiety, or mood and personality disorders.

The Interview

There are plenty of ADHD tests and questionnaires that can be used as a screening tool prior to you make an appointment with your doctor. These tests could provide you with the information that you may have ADHD, but the clinical interview with your doctor is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.

The process can last from between 2 and 3 hours. It includes explaining to the patient what we know about ADHD and how it may affect their symptoms. It may also include the doctor asking about a history of substance abuse or depression since these conditions are often co-occurring 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. The clinician will also want to look over the student's school records and speak with teachers. If the patient is an adult, a spouse or family member could also be interviewed. Personal insight can uncover details that aren't possible to obtain from questionnaires.

Some doctors are in a rush and do not complete this step, or they may insist on seeing a patient just once, rather than conducting an extensive evaluation. This can lead doctors to make a wrong diagnosis. If a doctor is too firmly rooted in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD and stipulates that a patient has to show at least six symptoms to be diagnosed, that's a red flag.

For adults, the evaluator may request that the patient complete ratings for each symptom on an ADHD checklist and provide examples of how those symptoms have affected the patient's life. The evaluator then compares the scores with the checklist and determines if there is ADHD.

For certain adults, it may be a relief to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. However, the underlying emotionslike guilt for not meeting expectations, or regret that the disorder was not recognized until later in lifeit can be a challenge. The inattention and impulsivity that are characteristic of ADHD can have serious implications throughout a person's life, including relationships, work and health.

The Tests

It can be challenging and confusing to get an ADHD diagnosis. It requires a lot of paperwork as well as interviews and tests. You can prepare by obtaining recommendations from trusted doctors or family members, as well as friends. Check out the credentials of the specialist and ensure that they meet your needs. It is essential to find specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. This is to ensure you or your child gets an accurate evaluation and the best possible treatment.

get adhd diagnosis of an ADHD assessment is an interview with an assessor. The evaluator will ask questions about your child or you to gather information about your symptoms. The evaluator would like to know how symptoms affect you and if they impact your schoolwork, work, or relationships. The evaluator can also use ratings scales to gauge your ADHD symptoms. These are usually checklists where you or someone you know is asked a series questions. You may be asked if you often forget appointments or how often you interrupt other people.

Many evaluators also ask people who know your child or you to fill out questionnaires about what they have observed. For adults, this could include spouses or children and for children, it could be coaches, teachers and nannies, or daycare workers. Personal insight can reveal information that is not possible to obtain through a questionnaire.

A few evaluators may also conduct cognitive testing to see whether intellectual or learning disabilities contribute to your symptoms. They may also screen for mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder or psychosis that is in the beginning. They may also screen for underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or seizures.

Some evaluators will provide your child or you an ADHD screening test that evaluates how you respond to targeted and non-target stimuli. The TOVA (Timed On Only Visual Attention) is a computerized test cleared by the FDA that evaluates your capacity to pay attention and remember a number of geometric shapes. The evaluator will examine 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 if you suffer from an impulsive ADHD or inattentional ADHD.

The Follow-Up

Several kinds of mental health professionals can offer ADHD assessments and provide a diagnosis. This could be a psychologist or psychiatrist as well as neurotherapist or psychotherapist. The doctor will want to know the cause of your concern and how long the issues have been occurring. The doctor will also inquire if there is a family history of ADHD. The disorder is believed to be 70%-80% hereditary. Genes play an important influence on whether your child or you suffer from symptoms.


The professional will be interested in knowing how your your child's ADHD affects your life, including home, work, and school. He will inquire with you or your child about their behavior in various environments since ADHD symptoms are different in different situations. To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD, your or your child must exhibit at least six distinct signs of hyperactivity, inattention or the impulsivity that affect daily functioning for a minimum of 6 months.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will have to rule other conditions out. Other psychiatric conditions, anxiety and mood disorders as well as intellectual disabilities could be a factor. Certain medical conditions that affect brain function, for example thyroid problems, can also be considered. The specialist will also ask about your child or yourself's sleeping habits, as well as any injuries or accidents that occurred in the past that may have impacted your child's or your brain's development.

The doctor will also determine whether the symptoms of ADHD in your child or you are related to any health conditions or medications you or your child are taking. For instance, stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD can sometimes cause side effects, such as stomachaches and difficulty sleeping. These side effects can be caused by other medications such as sleep medications, antidepressants and certain sleep aids.

Finally, the expert will be required to determine if a comorbidity present, which means that you or your child has another condition that can cause symptoms of ADHD like bipolar disorder, depression anxiety disorder, or eating disorder. The psychiatrist or psychologist will examine the data and then make the diagnosis.