How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis
Many adults don't realize they suffer from ADHD until later in life. The first step in being diagnosed is a clinical interview. It usually involves the patient, family, friends, and other caregivers.
Ask your primary doctor or mental health therapist to recommend a specialist. Examine their professional and academic degrees.
1. Visit a Psychiatrist
If you have been experiencing symptoms of ADHD and need a professional evaluation, it is the first step to gaining control of your condition. If you're a dreamer and frequently lose your keys, or you don't complete tasks at home, it is important to consult an expert in mental health who knows how to treat adult ADHD.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or clinical social worker could conduct an ADHD assessment and diagnosis. Your family doctor may be able to carry out an assessment as well, though many of them have limited knowledge about ADHD in adults. A visit to a specialist familiar with treating adults with ADHD can make all the difference in your treatment success.
Your doctor will review your medical and psychiatric histories during the evaluation process. Your healthcare doctor will ask you standardized questions to determine your behavior and determine whether or not you have symptoms of ADHD. If your childhood behavior is relevant to the diagnosis, they will also take into consideration it. They may also ask to examine your significant other, family members and colleagues.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has updated the criteria for diagnosing ADHD in adults. Adults only need five symptoms to be diagnosed, while children and adolescents require six. Your physician may suggest cognitive or learning disabilities or neuropsychological tests based on your particular situation.
It's also important to note that medication isn't the only treatment option for adults with ADHD. A combination of psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms as well. A therapist can help you with stress management, time management and organizational skills. They can also provide emotional support as you adjust to living with ADHD.
2. Schedule for an Evaluation
ADHD can last into adulthood. This is why a diagnosis is just as crucial for adults. You'll need undergo an examination to receive a diagnosis. The procedure can differ in each case, but you should expect an extensive interview with a health professional, a physical exam and a series of questionnaires or rating scales.
For adults the evaluators will examine how your symptoms impact various areas of your life, such as family and work. They'll also look into whether you suffer from any medical issues that could be contributing to your ADHD-like symptoms. These include thyroid disorders, mood disorder or seizures.
You may be asked to provide a detailed history of your symptoms. Because ADHD develops during childhood, the evaluator will be looking to determine whether you experienced a few months of symptoms prior to the age of 12. This could require confirmation from your teachers or parents.
Getting the right evaluation is important because without treatment, unmanaged ADHD can cause serious problems. It can affect your job and relationships. It can also create financial issues and difficulties in paying bills or keeping on top of them.
Ask your doctor for a referral or consult a mental health professional who specializes in adult ADHD. Most professionals will be willing to share information about their level of training and experience working with adults suffering from ADHD. If they're reluctant or unwilling to provide this information, it's an indication of a problem. You can also find an expert who is qualified by asking for recommendations from people with ADHD or by looking through online lists of professionals.
3. Contact us to schedule a consultation
When you are deciding how to get an adhd diagnosis, it's important that you find the right mental health specialist for you. You should seek out a professional who has experience working with ADHD in adults and will take the time to completely assess you for the condition. If you are not familiar with professionals who specialize in ADHD You can look through your insurance plan to see if there are any experts in your network that have training in ADHD assessment and treatment.
The first step is to set up a meeting with the professional you have selected. This will allow the psychiatrist or psychologist to meet with you and determine whether ADHD is the most appropriate diagnosis for your symptoms. They will also perform a full physical examination including hearing and vision tests to make sure that there's no other health issue causing your symptoms.
Your symptoms must have been present for at least for six months and interfere with your ability perform in two different environments to be diagnosed as ADHD. This is the case at home, school in the workplace, and in social environments. You may be asked to complete a behavior rating scale to help you identify your particular signs.
The evaluator might also inquire about the history of your family's ADHD, and use a checklist for scoring your symptoms in relation to the DSM-5 criteria. They may also ask you questions about your family life, school and work to determine whether there is a pattern in your behavior that could be indicative of ADHD.
Your doctor may also decide to conduct brain scans and blood tests in the course of the evaluation. They may also look into other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like sleep disorders and anxiety.
4. Perform a Psychiatric Examination
The process of obtaining an ADHD diagnosis is the first step towards finding treatment and reducing symptoms that could be causing havoc on your life. If you are constantly losing your keys, find it difficult to concentrate at work or your relationships are strained, an accurate diagnosis is crucial to rectifying these issues and determining the best coping strategies.
Your doctor will ask you to be interviewed and asked about your past history of ADHD symptoms. They will want to know about your family history, where and when you first noticed the symptoms begin to manifest, and they'll need to understand how those symptoms have affected your work, family life, social life, and overall wellbeing. It's crucial to be truthful and not hold back any information.
The psychiatrist or psychologist who performs your psychiatric evaluation will also look over your medical and psychiatric history. They will also use a detailed checklist to assess your symptoms and determine if they meet the criteria for ADHD. These criteria are outlined in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1.
Your evaluator could also decide to perform other tests in addition to evaluating your ADHD symptoms. This could include cognitive testing to rule out learning or intellectual issues that could be causing your problems. They'll also need to perform an examination to rule out conditions like seizures and thyroid disorders that can sometimes cause similar symptoms to ADHD.
Psychologists who conduct psychological testing are trained to analyze the severity of a variety of disorders. They're qualified to identify the symptoms of many different disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental health issues.
5. Take a medical assessment
You will be interviewed by psychiatrists or mental health professional regarding your symptoms. The length of the interview will differ based on the practitioner however, it will usually last at least an hour. During this time, you'll be asked to write down your symptoms and concerns in detail. You may also be asked to have your teachers or caregivers complete similar forms.
These questionnaires are designed to provide the same set of questions that are uniform which improves reliability and reduces the chance that interviewers will provide different answers. They will inquire about your symptoms now and since childhood. They will also go over diagnostic criteria to determine how many ADHD characteristics you have.
Certain evaluators may want to perform additional tests. Some evaluators will also run cognitive tests in order to check for learning or intellectual disabilities which could be causing ADHD symptoms. They will also screen for other conditions that could be causing your symptoms, for example, anxiety or depression. They may also do medical exams to rule out other causes for your symptoms, for instance thyroid disorders or seizure disorders.
Answering these questions honestly and fully is essential. While it may be uncomfortable to share your problems, it will aid the evaluator in finding out as much as they can about your difficulties. This information will be used to determine if your ADHD symptoms could be linked to a different condition or if they are ADHD.
It is not unusual for a psychiatric assessor to ask other people about your symptoms. They are likely to talk to your partner or spouse, especially if you are an adult. They may also wish to talk to your teachers, parents, or daycare providers if you have children.