How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis
Many adults don't discover they have ADHD until later in their lives. The first step to get an diagnosis is a clinical interview. The typical scenario involves the patient's family, friends, and other caregivers.
Ask your primary doctor or mental health therapist to suggest a specialist. Examine their professional and academic degrees.
1. Visit a Psychiatrist
If you've been experiencing symptoms of ADHD, a professional evaluation is the first step to gaining control of your condition. Whether you're a daydreamer at work, lose your keys often or never finish projects at home, it's important to visit a mental health professional who understands how to treat adult ADHD.
A psychiatrist, clinical social worker or psychologist can diagnose ADHD. Your family physician may be able to perform an assessment as well, though many of them are not knowledgeable about ADHD in adults. A visit to a specialist familiar with treating adults with ADHD can make all the difference to the success of your treatment.
In the process of evaluation your healthcare provider will examine your psychiatric and personal history. Your healthcare provider will ask you standardized questions in order to assess your behavior and determine whether or not you have symptoms of ADHD. If your childhood behavior is related to the diagnosis, they will also look into it. They may also ask to interview your significant other, friends and colleagues.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has been updated to reflect the criteria for determining ADHD in adults. Adults only require five symptoms to be diagnosed, while children and adolescents require six. Depending on your situation, your physician may recommend neuropsychological, cognitive or testing for learning disabilities to better know the way ADHD affects you.
It's also important to note that medication is not the only treatment option for adults suffering from ADHD. Lifestyle changes and psychotherapy can also aid in managing symptoms. A therapist can teach you strategies for managing stress, help with organization and time management skills, and offer emotional support while you learn to live with your ADHD.
2. Schedule an Evaluation
ADHD can persist into adulthood. That's why a diagnosis is just as crucial for adults. To be diagnosed it is necessary to go through an evaluation. The procedure can differ, but expect to undergo an extensive interview with an expert in medicine, a physical examination, and a series of questionnaires or rating systems.
For adults the evaluators will examine how your symptoms impact various aspects of your life, including family and work. They will also look at the medical conditions that may be causing symptoms that are similar to ADHD. This could include thyroid disorders as well as mood disorders and seizures.
As part of the assessment, you might be asked to give an account of your symptoms as far back as possible. Because ADHD develops during the childhood years, the evaluator will want to know whether you experienced some months of symptoms prior to age 12. This may require confirmation from your teachers or parents.
It is important to get the correct diagnosis since untreated ADHD can cause serious problems. It can impact your career, relationships and self-esteem. It can also create financial problems and difficulty paying bills or keeping track of them.
Ask your doctor for a referral or consult a mental health professional who is specialized in adult ADHD. Most professionals are willing to share information about their level of education and experience working with adults with ADHD. If they're not willing or unwilling to provide this information, that's a red flag. You can also find an ADHD professional by asking others with ADHD for recommendations or searching for professionals on the internet.
3. Request a Consultation
It's crucial that you choose the most qualified mental health specialist to diagnose you with adhd. You'll need to find someone who has experience with ADHD in adults, and who will thoroughly evaluate you. If you're not acquainted with specialists in ADHD you can inquire with your insurance plan to determine if there are any experts within your network with training in ADHD assessment and treatment.
When you've found an expert, the first step will be to schedule an initial consultation. The psychologist or psychiatrist will meet with you to determine whether ADHD is a good diagnosis for your symptoms. They'll also conduct an extensive physical examination that includes hearing and vision tests to make sure that t here 's no other health issue that is causing your issues.
Your symptoms must have been present for at least 6 months ago and interfere with your ability perform in two different situations to be diagnosed as ADHD. This includes home, school as well as work situations. You may be asked to complete a behavior rating scale to help you identify your particular symptoms.
The evaluator might also inquire about the family history of ADHD and may use a checklist for scoring your symptoms in relation to the DSM-5 criteria. They will also ask questions about your school, family life, and work to determine if there is a pattern in your behavior that could be indicative of ADHD.
Additionally, your physician might also suggest blood work and brain scans as part of the process of evaluation. They will also test for other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety and sleep disorders.
4. Perform a Psychiatric Assessment
The first step in reducing symptoms and seeking treatment is to obtain an ADHD diagnosis. If you're having trouble focusing at work, losing your keys, or are having difficulties maintaining relationships, a thorough diagnosis will help you improve these issues.
Your doctor will interview you and ask about your past experiences with ADHD symptoms. They'll be interested in knowing your family history, the reasons for your symptoms, and where you noticed the symptoms, and how they have affected your social and professional life. It is important to be honest and open.
The psychologist or psychiatrist who is conducting your psychiatric examination will review your medical history. They will also use a detailed checklist to look at your symptoms and determine whether they meet the criteria for ADHD. These criteria are described in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1.
Your evaluator could also decide to conduct other tests in addition to evaluating your ADHD symptoms. This could include cognitive tests to determine if you have mental or learning impairments that could be causing issues. They can also conduct physical tests to rule out any conditions such as thyroid disorders and seizures, which could be a symptom of ADHD.
Psychologists who perform psychological testing are trained to a specific level, which allows them to conduct thorough assessments for a wide range of disorders. They are trained to spot symptoms of a wide range of disorders, including depression and anxiety and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental health issues.
5. Take a medical assessment
You will be questioned by psychiatrists or a mental health professional about your symptoms. The length of the interview will differ depending on the physician, but it usually lasts up to an hour. During this time, you'll describe your problems in detail and fill out questionnaires about your symptoms. You may also be requested to have your teachers or caregivers fill out similar forms.
These questionnaires are designed to have the same set of questions that are uniform, increasing reliability and reducing the possibility that different interviewers can come up with different answers. They will ask you about your symptoms both in the present time and since your childhood. They will also review the diagnostic criteria to determine the amount of ADHD features you exhibit.
Some evaluators might require other tests too. For example, some will run cognitive tests to look for any intellectual or learning impairments that could be causing your ADHD symptoms. They can also test your symptoms for other illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. They can also conduct medical tests to rule out other reasons for your symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid disorders.
It is important to answer these questions in completeness and honestly. It may be uncomfortable to talk about your issues however it will help the evaluator gain as much information as is possible. They will analyze this information to determine if your ADHD symptoms are due to an additional condition or if you are suffering from ADHD.
It is not uncommon for a psychiatrist to inquire from other people about your symptoms. They will often ask to speak to your partner or spouse particularly if they are adults. They might also want to talk with your teachers, parents, or daycare providers, if you have children.