ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
In an ADHD screening the doctor will talk to you about your family and personal history, environment, work, and school performance. They will also collect an examination of your medical history, including physical examination.
A complete ADHD assessment will include questions about your childhood as well as a review of any drug or alcohol consumption. Your doctor will also inquire about any comorbid conditions that might be similar to the symptoms of ADHD.
adhd test for adult
If you suspect that an adult may have ADHD or other disorders, it is essential to talk with a primary health care provider. They can assist you in understanding what it means to be diagnosed with ADHD and refer you to mental health services if required. You can also locate a local ADHD-specialist counselor.
To determine if you have ADHD, a medical professional will use an evaluation tool. This usually includes a thorough interview and several questions about the symptoms. The examiner will want to know your history and determine if there were any significant childhood events that might have contributed to your symptoms or behavior. For instance the event that you were exposed to trauma or medical conditions in your early years of childhood.
The evaluator then determines the severity of your condition. This is determined by the extent to which your impairments affect your daily 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 aren't explained by a different mental health condition like depression or anxiety.
In addition to an in-depth clinical interview, the evaluator could 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 will also conduct psychological, neuropsychological or testing for learning disabilities when needed. These tests may reveal the existence of working memory deficiencies and executive functions abilities, visual and spatial skills and other variables.
You could be diagnosed with mild to moderate ADHD symptoms, based upon the interview and the assessment of symptoms. These levels are determined by the way ADHD symptoms affect you. For instance, mild ADHD symptoms will have a small impact on your work and social interactions. Moderate ADHD symptoms will have a larger impact on your life, while severe ADHD symptoms can affect every aspect of your life.
Diagnosis
It can be challenging to determine ADHD especially among adults. There are many Internet websites offer lists of symptoms and questionnaires. However only a licensed mental healthcare medical professional or doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of ADHD (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians). The process of evaluating involves an interview with the patient by the physician, and preferably with someone else in close contact with him or her like a spouse, parent or sibling as well as a coach or teacher or babysitter. Other important steps include assessing the person's symptoms at school, at work, at home and among friends. A complete medical history is an important step.
When looking at an adult's health, the physician will compare the patient's signs to those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This guide lists the symptoms that are used to diagnose ADHD in children and teenagers. But, due to differences between children and adults this guideline is not always a good way to diagnose adults suffering from the disorder. The doctor can also use 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 with the patient, the clinician will also be looking to learn more about the individual's childhood. Many people with ADHD have erratic or shaky memories of their childhood behavior The clinician will need to collect as much information as possible from teachers and relatives, as well as other people who have known the person in the past.
The doctor will also ask the individual to fill out a questionnaire that looks at how they react to certain situations, like losing his keys or missing appointments. He or she will also talk about the person's life style and the family and work history. In addition, the clinician will require the list of medications the patient is taking as well as his or her current symptoms. The clinician will determine if the symptoms are caused by other disorders like anxiety or depression and then choose the most appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment
A clear diagnosis of adult ADHD is an essential step in getting the appropriate treatment. Certain people suffering from ADHD have co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders that require treatment. Other people have physical ailments which impact their symptoms. Regardless of what's behind the symptoms, the majority of adults affected by this condition are greatly ameliorated by a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
In general, a mental health professional will conduct the ADHD assessment. The doctor will review the medical history of the patient and inquire about work, school and personal lives. He may also conduct a psychological exam or request to speak with parents, spouses or sibling for additional information that can't be gleaned from questionnaires. Depending on the situation, a physical or neurological exam 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 could ask family members, coworkers or teachers to obtain more information. He might ask you or your child to remember what you did when you were a child. Some experts believe that this type of interview is the most important component of an in-depth ADHD evaluation for children and adults.
Other tests might include a psychological assessment and cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with issues with thoughts or behavior like "thought distortions" or self-defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist can help you or your children replace these unhealthy beliefs and habits with healthier ones.
Your therapist can assist you in devising strategies to improve your organizational skills. For instance using a daily planner and creating lists of tasks. They can also help you learn strategies to decrease the risk-taking and impulsive behavior and gain confidence. They can also recommend support groups, such as a life coach or ADHD coach.
Some people suffering from ADHD find relief by taking stimulant medications, such as methylphenidates or amphetamines. These medications are believed to boost dopamine levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter which affects attention and motor coordination. These drugs are only prescribed to patients who have a definitive diagnosis of the disorder and who meet specific requirements.
Counseling
In some instances, people are directed to a specialist, even though they don't have ADHD. This can result in stress for those referred (long waiting lists, lengthy assessments, and finally finding out they do not have ADHD) and also inefficient use of healthcare resources and higher costs. Inappropriate referrals could lead to overdiagnosis of ADHD which could increase the chance of abuse of stimulants and diversion in certain instances.
A detailed diagnostic interview should be conducted by a certified clinician as part of a comprehensive ADHD assessment. This can include questions about the person's daily life whether at work or in school, their relationship with family and friends, drug and alcohol usage and driving history, medical issues and their mental health history from childhood to now. The examiner will look to determine if the individual is meeting the criteria for ADHD diagnosis (inattention hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsiveness). They will also consider whether the symptoms are causing impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and rating scales to assess ADHD symptoms may prove useful. They can be administered by the person who is evaluating, or by an outside source such as a spouse. These tests are particularly useful for people who are unsure about their symptoms or suspect they may have other causes for their symptoms. The evaluator might also ask the patient to complete a retrospective ADHD behavior profile from their childhood.
Psychological testing can be used to assess a person's cognitive functioning as well as emotional and behavioral state. This can include clinical interviews ratings scales and behavioral observations, as well as neuropsychological tests, intelligence tests and mood tests. This provides a better picture than a diagnostic interview alone and can assist in determining accommodations, interventions and treatment plans.