ADHD Assessment For Adults - What to Expect
You can request an appointment from your primary care physician or a support group of adults with ADHD to an experienced health professional who is qualified to conduct these assessments. You can also use the online directory of your health insurance plan to find specialists.
A typical assessment takes between one and three hours. The test starts with a detailed interview about your family's background, work experience and your personal life.
What to Expect
It is important to see your doctor if you think you or someone in your family suffers from ADHD. Your GP will talk to you about your symptoms, ask about your family history and inquire about any other conditions that you might be suffering from, however they are not allowed to diagnose ADHD themselves. They will refer you to a mental specialist typically a psychologist to assess your ADHD.
The initial assessment is the longest and most complex portion of the process and can take up to several hours. In this assessment the clinician will ask you a series standardized questions about your current and past behaviour. The clinician will also ask you about your past and present relationships. The interview will determine whether you meet the ADHD criteria as defined by the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association.
You'll need to show that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in two or more areas of your life. This could be at home, at work or in your social life. A few examples of impairment are being unable to keep working or having difficulty maintaining a healthy relationship, or slipping into financial trouble due to impulsive purchases.
Depending on the situation, the clinician will likely also perform some neuropsychological or psychological tests. These tests do not diagnose ADHD but they can provide valuable information about how ADHD affects your daily life. They can also help determine if you have other conditions that are comorbid like anxiety or depression.
Your GP will conduct a physical exam and collect your medical history prior to or during the examination. This will allow them to determine if there are any other medical conditions that could cause symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid disorders. They will also need to be aware of any previous medical or psychiatric diagnoses you've had, because some of them could look a lot like ADHD and may have been incorrectly diagnosed.
During the Evaluation
An interview with a mental healthcare professional could include questionnaires that patients must fill in. It could also include an interview with family members or close friends. This is a good idea in that the person might not be aware that their symptoms cause problems for others. It can also be used to determine any co-occurring mental health issues which need to receive treatment.
Adults can find it intimidating to be diagnosed with ADHD particularly when they are older and have lots of responsibilities. However, being diagnosed as an adult is not only feasible, but can greatly improve your life quality. A diagnosis can help you realize that inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity aren't due to a lack effort or personal shortcomings or a neurological disorder.
You or your child will need to exhibit symptomatic behaviors in at minimum two environments (home, school, and work) that cause major impairment. These symptoms must be present from the beginning of childhood and cannot be explained by other disorder.
As part of the evaluation process, a physical exam is generally recommended. Certain medical ailments (such seizures and thyroid issues) disorders), can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. A physical exam is also a way for the examiner to rule out these conditions as the cause of the symptoms.
The examiner will look at the patient's medical history and psychiatric symptoms. They will also review the patient's present situation and determine the impact of the symptoms on their daily life. It is often beneficial for the evaluator talk to those who are familiar with the patient like relatives or coworkers.
The evaluator will apply the criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to make a diagnosis. They will ask them to explain in detail their symptoms and how they affect the person's ability to function. They will also determine if there are any comorbid mental health conditions that need treatment, such as depression or anxiety.
Follow-up
After an ADHD assessment has been completed, a treatment plan can be created. Most often, this will comprise both psychotherapy and medication. It is important to remember that it may take time to establish the proper dosage of medication and also to see results of therapy. The most important thing you can do is to adhere to the treatment. It is crucial to be honest and open with your psychiatrist during one-on-one sessions. This will ensure you receive the best possible treatment.
Before meeting with the psychiatrist, you will be asked to fill out the pre-screening questionnaires. They are available on your portal dashboard and should be filled out in advance of your appointment. This will allow you to cut down on the time required for your appointment and ensure that your evaluator can meet with you as soon as is possible.
At the initial in-person session the evaluator will go over the medical history of you and conduct a physical exam. This could include screening for vision or hearing depending on the patient. This is done to determine if there is a medical cause of the symptoms.
The next important step is an in-depth interview, which may last anywhere from one to three hours. This gives the patient to discuss their symptoms in detail with the evaluator and explain how they affect their daily life. The evaluator can inquire about a range of questions including relationships, work, school, sleep patterns and eating habits. The evaluator may also want to speak with other people in the patient's life like parents, spouses siblings teachers, coaches, and daycare providers. This can provide information that is not obtainable from self-report questionnaires and helps the evaluator to confirm the presence of ADHD symptoms, as well as determine their severity and extent to which they interfere with the functioning.
The evaluator will then conduct an examination that will look at several areas associated with the disorder, including inattention, restlessness, and impulse control. The examiner will also ask questions regarding how the symptoms present in different settings and under various stressors, as ADHD may appear differently in different settings.
After the Evaluation
Your specialist will take notes as you describe your symptoms and will be able to answer questions. This part of the evaluation can take up to three hours, and may involve multiple visits or questionnaires. You may be asked to supply certain medical information, such as a family history of health problems and your current medications. This will enable the examiner to determine if you are suffering from symptoms related to something else.
You might be asked to fill in ADHD ratings scales or behavioral questionnaires. The evaluator could also conduct an examination of your body and examine your medical history. It is essential to rule out other medical conditions, such as seizures or thyroid issues, that can mimic the symptoms of ADHD.
The evaluator could also talk to people who are familiar with you, including teachers and coworkers. These interviews will assist the evaluator in understanding the way your symptoms affect you at school or work. It is essential to be honest and open about your symptoms and how they affect you and other people.
The evaluator will then write a a detailed report for you to read. They will outline their findings and a possible diagnosis. If they conclude that you have ADHD they will discuss ongoing treatment and support with you. If they don't discover that you have ADHD they will discuss other mental health issues and suggest ways to assist.
It can be a daunting process to get an ADHD assessment, particularly when you are an adult. It can be particularly difficult when you've been denied a diagnosis in the past, because many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what ADHD looks like.
It's never too late for an ADHD assessment. A diagnosis can help you seek treatment if you've been struggling for a long time. It also helps you to build stronger relationships with your family members. On Our Web Page can learn more about the signs and symptoms associated with ADHD. You can also download an acknowledgement letter from ADHD UK that you can send to your GP.