ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
In an ADHD test the doctor will ask you questions about your personal and family background as well as your school and work performance, and your environment. They will also take an medical history, which may include physical examination.
A complete ADHD evaluation will include questions about your childhood and any drug or alcohol use. Your physician will inquire about any comorbid conditions that could mimic the symptoms that are associated with ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
If an adult suspects they have ADHD, it is important to talk to a primary care physician. They can help you understand what it means to have ADHD and refer you to mental health care if necessary. You can also find an ADHD-specialist in your area.
To determine ADHD, a healthcare professional will employ an evaluation tool. This usually involves a thorough interview and a series questions about symptoms. The evaluator wants to know about your past, and if there were any significant childhood events that may have contributed to your symptoms and behavior. For example whether you were subjected to trauma or had any medical illnesses in early childhood.
The evaluator will then determine the severity of your symptoms. This is determined by the extent to which your impairments affect your daily activities. This is the case if, for example, you had significant difficulties in completing your work or interacting with family members. This is a crucial aspect of the process of diagnosing as it ensures that your ADHD symptoms can't be explained by mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression.
In addition to conducting a thorough clinical interview, the evaluator may also use standardized behavioral rating scales or ADHD symptom 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 psychological, neuropsychological or testing for learning disabilities, should it be required. These tests can reveal the existence of working memory deficiencies, executive functions ability spatial and visual skills and other aspects.
It is possible that you'll be diagnosed with moderate, mild or severe ADHD symptoms according to your interview and symptom assessment. These levels are determined by the extent to which ADHD symptoms affect you. Mild ADHD symptoms, like are likely to have little impact on your work and social interactions. Moderate ADHD symptoms will have a greater impact on your life, and severe ADHD symptoms can affect all aspects of your life.
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to determine ADHD particularly in adults. While many Internet websites provide symptom checklists and questionnaires, the most reliable diagnosis of ADHD is determined by an accredited mental health specialist or a doctor (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor). The process of evaluating involves an interview with the patient by the physician, and preferably with a person who is in close contact with him or her, such as spouse, parent or sibling; teacher or coach; or a babysitter. Other important steps include evaluating the individual's symptoms in school, at work, at home and among friends. A complete medical record is also an important step.
When evaluating an adult medical professional, they will compare the patient's symptoms to those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This guide lists the symptoms that are used to determine an assessment of ADHD in adolescents and children. These criteria might not be applicable to adults due to the distinct characteristics between children and adults. The doctor may also employ the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale for adults. It is a self-reporting 40-item test that assesses various aspects of ADHD symptoms.
During the interview the clinician will seek out more information about the person's childhood. Many adults suffering from ADHD do not remember their childhoods well, or even at all. The doctor will have to get as much information as possible from the person's parents, teachers, and others who have been around them in the past.
The clinician will ask the patient to complete a questionnaire to see how they respond to certain situations such as not attending an appointment or losing their keys. The clinician will also discuss the individual's life style and the family and work history. The doctor will also ask the patient for a list if medications they take and their current symptoms. The doctor will determine if symptoms are due to other issues like anxiety or depression and then choose the most appropriate treatment strategy.
Treatment
An accurate diagnosis of adult ADHD is a critical step to receiving the proper treatment. Some people with ADHD also have comorbid conditions like mood disorders and anxiety that require treatment. Other people have physical ailments that can affect their symptoms. Whatever I Am Psychiatry of symptoms is, most adults suffering from this condition will benefit from an individualized psychotherapy program and medication.
Typically an expert in mental health will perform the evaluation for ADHD. The doctor will go over the medical history of the patient and inquire about work, school and personal lives. He may also conduct an examination for psychological health or ask to speak to parents, spouses, sibling or significant other for additional information that can't be obtained from questionnaires. Based on the circumstances, a physical or neurological exam may 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 interview family members, teachers or co-workers for additional details. He might ask you or your child to think about what you did when you were a child. Some experts believe this interview is the most important component of a thorough ADHD evaluation for children as well as adults.
Other tests may include a psychological exam and cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with issues with thoughts or behavior, such as "thought distortions" or self-defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist can assist you or your children to change these negative beliefs and habits with healthier ones.
Your therapist can assist you in devising strategies to improve your organization skills. For example, using a daily planner and creating lists of tasks. They can teach you how to control impulsive behaviors and decrease risk-taking. They can also recommend groups of support like an ADHD or life coach.
Adults with ADHD might find relief from stimulant medication like amphetamines or methylphenidates. These medications are believed to increase the brain's natural levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which affects motor coordination and attention. These medications are only available to those with a clear diagnosis of the disorder and who meet certain criteria.
Counseling
In some instances, people are sent to a specialist without even having ADHD. This can lead to distress for those who are referred (long waiting lists, long tests, and then discovering they don't have ADHD) and also the use of healthcare resources, and increased costs. Inappropriate referrals can also cause overdiagnosis of ADHD (increasing the chance of using stimulants, which may be a source of diversion and abuse in certain instances) and may increase the number of people who are diagnosed with ADHD when their symptoms are related to other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
A comprehensive ADHD assessment should include a detailed diagnostic interview conducted by a trained doctor. This can include questions about the person's daily life at work or school, their relationship with their family and friends, drug and alcohol usage, driving background, medical issues and their mental health history from childhood onwards. The examiner will determine if the person meets the requirements for ADHD diagnosis (inattention hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsiveness). They will also consider whether the symptoms are leading to impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and ratings scales could be helpful in the assessment of ADHD symptoms. They can be administered by the evaluator, or provided by an independent source like a spouse. They can be extremely useful when a person is not sure of their own symptoms or believes they have other reasons for their problems. The evaluator can also ask the patient to complete an retrospective ADHD profile of their childhood behavior.
Psychological testing is often used to provide a full evaluation of a person's cognitive behavior, emotional and behavioral functioning. It can involve clinical interviews as well as rating scales, behavioral observations, tests for neuropsychological intelligence, and mood tests. This gives a more complete picture than a diagnosis conversation alone, and can be used to guide accommodation, treatments, and interventions.