ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
During an ADHD screening, your doctor will interview you about your personal and family history, work environment, and school performance. They will also inquire about your medical history and perform a physical examination.
A full ADHD assessment will include questions about your childhood and an assessment of any substance or alcohol use. Your physician will inquire about any comorbid conditions which may be akin to the symptoms that are associated with ADHD.
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It is important for an adult who suspects they might be suffering from ADHD to speak with their primary health care provider. They can assist you in understanding what it means to have ADHD and also refer you to mental health care if necessary. You can also find an ADHD-specialist in your area.
A healthcare professional will employ an instrument to diagnose ADHD. Usually, this includes a thorough interview and a series of questions about symptoms. The examiner will want to know about your past, and if there were any significant childhood events that might have caused your symptoms and behavior. You can tell the evaluator if you experienced trauma or a medical illness during your early childhood.
The evaluator determines the severity of your symptoms. This will be determined by how much your impairments affect your daily functioning. For instance, if are having a difficult time maintaining a job or interacting with your family members, this would be considered an impairment. This is a vital element of the diagnosis process because it makes sure that your ADHD symptoms aren't explained by mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression.
In addition to a thorough clinical interview, the examiner may also administer standardized behavioral rating scales or ADHD symptoms checklists. These tools can help to identify if you have six or more established ADHD symptoms in one of the two main categories -- inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity. The examiner will also conduct neuropsychological, psychological or testing for learning disabilities when needed. These tests can reveal details about working memory impairments and executive functions abilities spatial and visual abilities and other factors.
It is possible that you'll be diagnosed with moderate, mild or severe ADHD symptoms in light of your assessment of symptoms and interview. These levels are based on the way ADHD symptoms affect you. For instance mild ADHD symptoms will have minimal effect on your work and social interactions. Moderate ADHD symptoms will have a greater impact on your life, and severe ADHD symptoms can interfere with all aspects of your life.
Diagnosis
It can be challenging to determine ADHD especially among adults. Although many Internet sites offer symptom checklists and questionnaires, the sole valid diagnosis of ADHD is made by an accredited mental health specialist or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist or family physician). The process of evaluation includes an interview of the individual by the doctor, usually with a person who is in constant contact with him or her, such as a spouse, parent or sibling; teacher or coach; or babysitter. Other important steps include determining the impact of symptoms on the individual at work or in school and at home and with friends; taking a an extensive medical history and determining whether the symptoms can be explained by a different condition.
When evaluating adults, a doctor will examine the symptoms of a patient against those listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This guide contains the symptoms used to diagnose ADHD in children and teenagers. But, due to differences between children and adults the criteria aren't always applicable to diagnosing adults suffering from the disorder. The doctor can also use the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale for adults. This is a self-reporting 40-item test that evaluates different aspects of ADHD symptoms.
During the interview, the therapist may also want to know more about the child's history. Many adults with ADHD don't recall their childhoods well or even at all. The doctor will need to collect as much information from the person's family members teachers, relatives, and other people who have known them in the past.
The clinician may also ask the patient to fill out an assessment of how they respond to certain situations, such as missing his keys or not attending appointments. The clinician will also discuss the individual's life style, work and family history. In addition, the clinician will require the list of medications the patient is taking as well as his or her current symptoms. The doctor will determine whether the symptoms are caused by other issues, such as anxiety or depression and determine the best treatment program.
Treatment
A precise diagnosis of adult ADHD is a critical step in getting the appropriate treatment. Certain people suffering from ADHD may also suffer from comorbid disorders like mood disorders and anxiety, which require treatment. Others have physical ailments that affect their symptoms. Whatever the cause of symptoms is, most adults suffering from this disorder will benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
In general, a mental health professional will conduct the ADHD evaluation. The doctor will inquire about the patient's medical history, and ask about their school, work and their personal lives. He may conduct an examination for psychological health or ask to speak with parents, spouses or sibling for more details that can't be gleaned from questionnaires. A physical or a neurological exam could be necessary, depending on the situation.
The evaluator will use rating scales and other tools to determine if you or your child has established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity for the past six months. The evaluator may interview family members, co-workers or teachers to get more information. He might ask you or your child to remember the way you behaved when you were a child. Some experts believe this type of interview is an essential element of a thorough ADHD assessment for adults and children.
Other tests may include a psychological exam and cognitive behavioral therapy to address issues with behavior or thoughts such as "thought distorsions" or self defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist will help you or your children replace these unhealthy habits and beliefs with healthier ones.
Your therapist will assist you in developing strategies to improve your organizing abilities. For instance using a daily planner and making lists of tasks. They can also teach you strategies to decrease the risk-taking and impulsive behavior and build confidence. They can also recommend support groups like an ADHD or life coach.
Adults suffering from ADHD may find relief from stimulant medication like amphetamines and methylphenidates. These drugs are believed to boost dopamine levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter that affects attention and motor coordination. These medications are only prescribed to patients with a clear diagnosis of the disorder and who meet specific requirements.
Counseling
In some cases, people may find themselves referred to specialists for ADHD but not having the disorder. This can lead to distress for those referred (long waiting lists, lengthy tests, and then discovering they do not have ADHD), waste of healthcare resources and increased costs. Inappropriate referrals could cause an overdiagnosis of ADHD, which can increase the likelihood of diversion and abuse of stimulants in certain instances.
A complete ADHD evaluation should include a detailed diagnostic interview conducted by a trained doctor. This could include questions about the person's daily life, school or work and their relationships with family and friends, drinking and drug usage as well as driving history, medical issues and their mental health history from childhood to now. The examiner will look at how many of the criteria to diagnose ADHD are applicable to the individual (inattentiveness hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattention). They will also consider whether their symptoms can cause impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and scales of ratings can be useful in assessing ADHD symptoms. These can be administered by the evaluator or provided by an independent source such as spouse. They are particularly helpful when a person is not sure of their own symptoms or believes that they have other causes for their difficulties. The evaluator could also ask the patient to complete a retrospective ADHD profile of their childhood behavior.
Psychological testing is commonly used to provide a complete evaluation of a person's cognitive behavior, emotional and behavioral functioning. This can include behavioral observations ratings scales, neuropsychological tests. This provides a more comprehensive picture than a diagnosis conversation by itself, and can be used to guide accommodation, interventions, and treatment plans.