ADHD Testing For Adults
Professionals who treat adult ADHD refer many adults who require an ADHD assessment. They could be licensed psychologists, therapists or coaches.
In contrast to online ADHD rating scales, an evaluation conducted by a trained professional can provide tangible results. A typical assessment involves an interview with the patient and an individual who knows him very well.
1. The history of symptoms
During the evaluation the health care professional will ask you questions about the symptoms that are affecting your daily routine. For instance, you could be struggling to keep up with work or school and often lose things or have trouble focusing in class or get distracted by the activities around you. It is important to discuss how these problems affect your family and relationships. ADHD can cause problems in friendships, marriages and romantic relationships.
The provider will perform an examination to check for medical conditions that can cause symptoms similar ADHD. He or she will also look over your medical and psychiatric history including any other health problems you may have. The provider will also need to know about your family history since ADHD is a condition that can be passed down through families.
To be diagnosed with ADHD children and teens must exhibit symptoms of the disorder in at least two different settings like at home and at school. For adults at minimum five of the six criteria in the Diagnosis and Statistical Handbook of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) must apply and the symptoms must be severe enough to impair functioning in multiple areas of their lives. The symptoms must not be explained by other conditions, such as anxiety or mood disorders.
Some people without ADHD are wrongly diagnosed due to a variety reasons, such as not knowing that the symptoms started in childhood or exaggerating their symptoms. Some adults with ADHD seek diagnoses as they seek access to medication or disability accommodations. To avoid these errors, it is important to have a validated screen for ADHD in adults. In addition, it's crucial to include a test that is designed to identify non-credible responses.
2. Medical History
There is no single test to determine ADHD and different doctors employ different methods to screen adults. Most experts agree that a thorough medical exam is the first step in any successful ADHD screening. This includes asking about medical, psychiatric and family history from childhood. It also focuses on the individual's symptoms, and how they affect the way they live their lives. In addition to an interview, some doctors utilize the same behavior rating scales that are standard and questionnaires, neuropsychological testing and other psychometric tests like spatial or visual working memory, reasoning and (thinking) tests.
Some medical conditions, such as seizures and thyroid issues, can cause symptoms that are similar to those of ADHD. Learn Alot more can conduct an examination to rule these out. A psychiatrist will also search for any other mental disorders that may be causing symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.
A psychiatrist or psychologist may ask permission to interview teachers or babysitters or coaches or other people who have spent time with a child or teen. This will give a more complete picture of the child's lifestyle and behavior, and may aid in identifying the presence of other disorders which could be causing the ADHD symptoms.
For adults, a psychologist or psychiatrist will usually ask the patient about their family and personal history, especially in relation to the presence of ADHD symptoms in childhood. The doctor will also ask whether anyone in the family has been diagnosed with ADHD. They will also interview the individual about their home, work and social life. This can help to determine whether or not the person is coping with stressors or battling other issues, such as problems with relationships or addiction to substances.
3. Family History
If someone is diagnosed with ADHD it is often because they have an ancestral history of the disorder. It's because it's a hereditary disorder, and if one or both of your parents have ADHD there is a chance very high that you will be diagnosed with the exact same thing.
You'll get asked a lot of questions about your childhood, and any signs that might have developed. It's important to let healthcare professionals know about any issues you may have faced in your childhood because that's the time when the disorder typically develops. You might be asked about the strategies you've learned through the years as some people learn to hide their symptoms as they age.
The evaluation process can vary however, it usually involves an individual interview that lasts up to three hours. The clinician will ask questions that have been planned to improve reliability and decrease the chance of different interviewers coming to different conclusions. The interviewer might ask you what the most common symptoms of a disorder you've experienced in the past six month.
It's also common to utilize rating scales during an extensive ADHD screening. They are constructed from research that compares the behaviors of people who have and do not have ADHD. They aren't diagnostic in their own right, but they are an essential component of the overall assessment.
The doctor may also speak with other people, including your family members or spouse as well as coaches or teachers who were with you in childhood. This will help your doctor get a better picture of your symptoms, and determine if you have another mental disorder.
4. Personal Insight
One of the most important elements of a thorough ADHD assessment is the clinician's interview. They conduct a formal and standard interview, posing questions designed to gather all the relevant information. This approach improves reliability and reduces the likelihood of different evaluations coming to different conclusions about the person.
The evaluator will want to know about all of your experiences with ADHD symptoms, both in the present and in the past. They will ask you questions about how your symptoms affect your relationships and life. They will also ask you to rate how often you experience certain symptoms, on a scale ranging from rarely to frequently. This is the Symptom Rating Scale, and you can access it online on your tablet or computer.
The healthcare professional might utilize other behavioral tests at your appointment along with the standard ADHD questionnaire. These can include a checklist of symptoms and a scale for assessing behavior for ADHD, and any other psychometric tests considered appropriate by the assessor. They may also test for other conditions that can are similar to or coexist with ADHD like mood disorders and learning disabilities.
They may also interview collateral sources, like friends or family members, to gain a better understanding of the individual's behavior and the extent of their ADHD symptoms. They may also conduct a physical exam and review medical histories to rule out other ailments that could mimic or coexist with ADHD like thyroid problems or seizures. They could also conduct a brain wave test to measure the brain activity that is associated with ADHD. This is a non-invasive method that involves putting sensors on the scalp to track electrical activity.
5. Tests
While there is no one test that can definitively diagnose ADHD healthcare professionals often use a combination of physical exams, behavioral testing and questionnaires to make a diagnosis. Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and neurologists are all qualified to perform an ADHD evaluation for adults. They can also suggest support groups for people suffering from ADHD.
In the majority of cases, a first step in an ADHD evaluation is to discuss the symptoms with a medical professional. It's important to share exact information, such as whether a person is on any medications or has had any prior medical issues. Bring any notes or journals that describe the issues of the patient.
A mental health professional will typically inquire about a person's background, environment as well as work, school, and behavior. Patients are often asked to complete questionnaires and checklists. They may also interview family members, friends and coworkers who saw the person act in a certain way. It's not uncommon for a doctor to request teachers or child care workers for their opinion also.
Certain doctors also utilize computer tests, also known as continuous performance tests to screen for ADHD symptoms like inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. The patient sits in front of the computer, which shows various visual targets. The test evaluates a patient's ability for focus and to complete tasks. However, it is controversial in certain circles. Some experts believe these tests are useless and expose patients to excessive amounts of radioactivity that is ionizing.
Additionally, some doctors might utilize brain scans to look for indications of ADHD. These tests show changes in the activity levels of the frontal lobes the brain. These findings aren't widely accepted and haven't been proven to improve the accuracy a person's diagnoses.