ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
During an ADHD screening the doctor will talk to you about your personal and family history, environment, work, and school performance. They will also ask for your medical history and conduct an examination of your body.
A complete ADHD assessment will include questions about your childhood as well as a review of any drug or alcohol consumption. testing for adhd in adults will ask you about any comorbid conditions which may be akin to the symptoms that are that are associated with ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
If an adult suspects they might have ADHD or other disorders, it is essential to talk to a primary doctor. They can help you know what ADHD is and can refer you to a mental health professional in the event of need. You can also locate an expert local counselor who specializes in ADHD.
A healthcare professional may use an instrument to diagnose ADHD. This usually includes a thorough interview and a series questions about symptoms. The evaluator will want to know your background and whether there were any significant events during your childhood that may be a factor in your symptoms and behavior. For example the event that you were exposed to trauma or medical conditions in your early years of childhood.
The evaluator then determines how serious your symptoms are. It will be determined by the extent to which the impairments you suffer from affect your everyday functioning. For example, if you are having a difficult time maintaining a job or interacting with your family members, this could be considered an impairment. This is an essential aspect of the diagnostic process because it ensures that your ADHD symptoms are not better explained by a different mental health condition like depression or anxiety.
In addition to conducting a thorough clinical interview, the evaluator may also use 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 evaluator can also conduct a neuropsychological, psychological or learning disabilities testing if needed. These tests can reveal information about working memory deficits and executive functions abilities, visual and spatial skills and other factors.
It is possible to be diagnosed with moderate, mild or severe ADHD symptoms according to your assessment of symptoms and interview. These levels are based on how ADHD symptoms affect you. For instance mild ADHD symptoms will have little impact on your social and work activities. Moderate ADHD symptoms will have a greater effect on your life, while severe ADHD symptoms can interfere with every aspect of your life.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD isn't always easy, especially for adults. Although many Internet websites offer checklists of symptoms and questionnaires, the sole valid diagnosis of ADHD is made by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist or family doctor). The process of evaluating involves an interview with the patient by the physician, and preferably with someone else in close contact with the patient, such as parents, spouses, sibling; teacher or coach; or a babysitter. Other important steps include evaluating the individual's symptoms at work, at school at home, and with friends. Taking a complete medical record is also an important step.
When evaluating adults, the physician will review the patient's symptoms in relation to those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition. This guide lists the symptoms that are used to diagnose ADHD in teenagers and children. However, due to the differences between adults and children this guideline is not always applicable to diagnosing adults suffering from the disorder. The doctor may also employ the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale for adults. It is a 40 item self-reporting test that evaluates different aspects of ADHD symptoms.
During the interview, the doctor might also want to learn more about the child's history. Many adults suffering from ADHD have inconsistent or poor memories of their childhood behavior and the doctor will want to gather as much information as they can from relatives and teachers, and other people who knew the individual in the past.
The clinician will ask the individual to fill out a questionnaire to assess how they react to specific situations like missing an appointment or losing their keys. He or she may also ask about the individual's family history as well as their work history and lifestyle. The physician will also ask the person for a list if they are taking any medications and their current symptoms. The physician will then determine whether the symptoms are due to other conditions, like anxiety or depression and decide on the proper treatment program.
Treatment
A clear diagnosis of adult ADHD is an essential step in obtaining the right treatment. Some people with ADHD have comorbid disorders like anxiety and mood disorders that require treatment. Others suffer from physical issues that can affect their symptoms. Whatever the cause of symptoms is, most adults suffering from this condition will benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Typically the mental health professional will conduct the test for ADHD. The doctor will go over medical history and ask about school, work and personal lives. He may ask to speak with your spouse or parent, child or your significant other to obtain more details that cannot be obtained through a questionnaire. Depending on the situation an examination for neurological or physical health could be required.
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 will speak to family members, teachers or colleagues for more details. He might ask you or your child to remember how you behaved as when you were a child. Some experts believe this interview is the most crucial part of an in-depth ADHD evaluation for children and adults.
Other tests could include a psychological test and cognitive behavioral therapy to address issues with behavior or thoughts, such as "thought distorsions" or self-defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist will assist you or your children to change these negative habits and beliefs with healthier ones.
Your therapist can help you develop strategies to improve organizational skills, like using a daily planner or creating lists of tasks. They can also teach you how to control impulsive behaviors and reduce the risk you take. They can also suggest support groups, such as a life coach or ADHD coach.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications such as amphetamines and methylphenidates. These medications are believed to boost dopamine levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter which can affect attention and motor coordination. These medications are only prescribed to those with a clear diagnosis of the disorder and who meet specific requirements.
Counseling
In some instances, people are sent to a specialist without having ADHD. This can cause stress to those referred, waste of healthcare resources, and higher costs. Inappropriate referrals could cause an overdiagnosis of ADHD, which can increase the likelihood of diversion and abuse of stimulants in certain cases.
A detailed diagnostic interview should be conducted by a trained professional as part of a comprehensive ADHD assessment. This can include questions about the person's daily life, school or work, their relationship with family and friends, drinking and drug use and driving background, medical issues and their mental health history from childhood onwards. The examiner will determine if the person meets the criteria for ADHD diagnosis (inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness). They will also consider whether the symptoms of ADHD cause impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and ratings scales could be useful in assessing ADHD symptoms. They can be administered by the evaluator, or filled out by an outside source such as spouse. These tests are particularly useful for people who are unsure about their symptoms or suspect they may have other reasons for their problems. The evaluator could also ask the person to complete an retrospective ADHD profile of their childhood behavior.
Psychological testing is often used to provide a complete evaluation of a person's cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning. This can include clinical interviews as well as rating scales, behavioral observations, neuropsychological tests, intelligence tests and mood tests. This provides a more comprehensive picture than a diagnosis conversation alone, and can be used to inform accommodation, interventions, and treatment plans.