How to Get Assessed For ADHD
If you are struggling to keep up at school or work because of ADHD symptoms, it's essential to have a thorough evaluation. A diagnosis can help you take back control of your life.
An evaluation involves a physical exam, review of previous tests and school records (for adults) an interview with the patient and questionnaires, as well as screening for ADHD.
1. Talk to Your Doctor
Begin by speaking with your primary care physician if you suspect you or your child could be suffering from ADHD. They can recommend health care specialists who are skilled in diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults. They may also refer you to an expert if further treatment or screening is required.
It's important to be honest about your symptoms with your doctor. They can help you understand your symptoms better and offer a solution-oriented roadmap for overcoming them. It is important to inform your doctor if had symptoms since childhood. ADHD often isn't diagnosed until adulthood when a person's existing mechanisms for coping reach their tipping point, or new responsibilities and demands at school, work or in relationships require more self-regulation than the neurobiologically can handle.
A qualified evaluator could use clinical interviews, behavior ratings scales or symptom checklists to determine whether you meet the ADHD diagnostic criteria. You may be asked to fill out the questionnaire in advance or during your assessment. like it may want to screen for other mental disorders, like anxiety or depression, which may cause similar symptoms to ADHD. They may also perform cognitive testing to determine if you suffer from learning disabilities or any other conditions that could affect your ability to pay attention.
Then, they'll look for medical conditions that could be the cause of your symptoms, for instance seizures or thyroid disorders. They might even need to conduct a physical examination to rule out any other problems. You could be undergoing your first medical examination in a long time. Prepare for it by having a thorough physical examination, including blood tests, before the exam.
2. Schedule an appointment
Doctors typically begin with a physical exam for children to make sure that something else isn't the cause of the symptoms (such as visual problems or ear infections). Parents and children alike are asked to describe what they see. Your child and you may be asked to complete checklists of ADHD symptoms. They could also request school records to determine if similar behaviours have been observed by teachers.
The doctor will also review the medical and mental health history of the family. The doctor will also examine if any other conditions could be causing the symptoms, for example, thyroid issues or learning disabilities. Bring any documents or information you have to your appointment. It is also beneficial to bring old school records as ADHD is often a family issue and can be spotted on school report cards.
Interview with the physician or nurse who will be conducting the assessment. The discussion will probably center around how the person's ADHD is affecting them personally and professionally. It is very important for someone with ADHD to be candid in the discussion. Often, people are shy about their issues and don't tell the full story. This could lead to a misdiagnosis, where the person is diagnosed with a condition that isn't a match for their symptoms.
Adults who require an ADHD evaluation can seek one via the NHS in England. Contact your GP to let them know why you think you might have this disorder. However, it is much more common for adults to seek out help privately. Adults who want to be assessed for ADHD should be aware that only a UK psychologist or psychiatrist is qualified to diagnose the condition.
3. Make an Appointment with a psychiatrist
If you are referred for an ADHD evaluation the psychiatrist will speak with you about your symptoms, and then review your medical background. They will also evaluate your current condition and lifestyle. They may use behavior rating scales, symptom checklists, and other tests to determine if your issues satisfy the requirements for ADHD diagnosis as defined in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition). They also conduct psychological, neuropsychological and/or learning disabilities tests.
It is essential to realize that you need to have severe symptoms and they must be present for a long time to be eligible for an ADHD diagnoses. Your symptoms should hinder your ability to function at work, school, or home. They should have been present before the age of 12. You need at least six characteristics (symptoms) that are in the ADHD diagnostic guidelines, and they must cause problems in your life. Your doctor will also need to rule out other medical conditions that could be the cause of your symptoms.
Sometimes it can be difficult to locate a psychiatrist that is competent to perform an ADHD assessment for adults. It can be helpful to ask your primary care doctor for recommendations or search online for professionals in your region. You can also reach out to your insurance to find out which specialists they recommend and what they will cover. Some people feel more comfortable locating professionals who share their gender identity or cultural.
After collecting all the necessary information to make a diagnosis, the psychiatrist will develop the treatment plan for you. This may include medication or therapy lifestyle changes, alternative treatments. They will also make follow-up appointments to track your progress and make adjustments if necessary. To manage ADHD symptoms and get relief from symptoms, it's important to adhere to your treatment plan.
4. Schedule an Appointment with a Child Psychiatrist
It's important to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist because they are the only healthcare professionals qualified to diagnose ADHD. You are directed to one by your physician or get an assessment via the NHS. The assessment will involve the completion of rating scales, questionnaires and interviews with you and your family members. You could be asked to submit your medical and family background, including any mental health diagnosis you have received.
You will be asked how often your child exhibits symptoms of hyperactivity or lack of attention at present and the past six months. You'll be asked to describe how these symptoms impact your child's school and family life. The doctor will determine whether your child meets standardized criteria for ADHD. Generally, you or your child must display at least six established symptoms in either the hyperactivity/impulsivity or inattention categories to receive a diagnosis of ADHD.
Your child's teacher will participate in the assessment process as well, because many cases of ADHD are first discovered by teachers. Your child's teacher will be asked to assess your child's behavior on several behavioral scales, including the SNAP or the Child Behaviour Checklist. The teacher will also be asked to explain your child's behaviors in more detail.
Even if you feel ashamed or embarrassed about your problems it is crucial that those being assessed for ADHD are honest with their clinicians. Symptoms of ADHD can have severe consequences, such as losing your job or getting in financial trouble due to the impulsive spending. The degree of impairment must be significant enough to cause problems in more than one situation for a diagnosis of ADHD to be made.
5. Schedule an Appointment with a Child Psychologist
A Psychiatrist will assess the child and perform tests to determine if the symptoms are due to ADHD. They will also examine the child's medical background, family history, and their development. During the interview, they will utilize rating scales and questionnaires designed to help identify symptoms of ADHD. These can be completed by parents, teachers and children. They may also take educational and psychological tests to test cognitive processes like memory and planning, decision making and reasoning, and to identify other conditions that may cause the same symptoms.
For children, to be diagnosed with ADHD, they must have six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity that have lasted for at least six months. For adults, they must have five or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity. These criteria are determined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5 - TR.
Many people are not diagnosed with ADHD until they're struggling in school, at work or in their relationships because of the symptoms. It is also possible that the onset of adulthood is the point of tipping because the added tasks and routine changes can strain the person's current coping mechanisms.
It can be a challenge to determine if you have ADHD because of stigma around the condition and the fact that it is often incorrectly diagnosed. For example, it is very common for medical staff to observe a person struggling with untreated ADHD and believe that they are lazy or depressed in particular if they have not previously seen the patient. This can lead to inappropriate treatment that fails to tackle the root issues. It is important to explain to your GP precisely why you believe your child may be suffering from ADHD and ask for an assessment.