ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
During an ADHD screening, your doctor will ask you questions about your family and personal background along with your work and school performance, as well as your environment. They will also take an medical history, which may include a physical exam.
A complete ADHD assessment will include questions about your childhood and an assessment of any substance or alcohol use. Your clinician will also ask about any comorbid conditions that might mimic the symptoms of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
It is essential for anyone who is concerned that they might have ADHD to consult their primary health care provider. They can assist you to understand what ADHD is and refer you to mental health care, if needed. You can also find a local ADHD-specialist counselor.
To determine ADHD, a healthcare professional will employ an assessment tool. This usually includes a thorough interview and an array of questions regarding symptoms. The evaluator should be aware of your past and if there were any significant events that occurred in your childhood that might have contributed to your behavior and symptoms. For instance, if you were exposed to trauma or had any medical illnesses in early childhood.
The evaluator then determines how serious your symptoms are. The evaluator will decide how much your impairments affect your daily activities. This would be the case if, for example you had difficulty maintaining your job or getting along well with family members. This is a crucial part of the diagnostic process, as it will ensure that your ADHD symptoms are not better explained by a different mental health issue, such as anxiety or depression.
The evaluator may also administer ADHD symptom checklists or behavioral rating scales. 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 psychological, neuropsychological or testing for learning disabilities, if needed. These tests can provide details about working memory impairments and executive functions abilities, visual and spatial skills and other variables.
You may be diagnosed with mild to moderate ADHD symptoms based on the interview and the assessment of symptoms. These are different levels of the disorder and they reflect how your ADHD symptoms impact you in your life. For instance mild ADHD symptoms will have minimal effect on your social and work activities. Moderate ADHD symptoms will have a greater impact on your life, while severe ADHD symptoms can affect every aspect of your life.
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to diagnose ADHD especially among adults. Many Internet websites provide symptom lists and questionnaires. However only a licensed mental health professional or physician can make a valid diagnosis of ADHD (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians). The process of evaluation includes an interview with the patient by the doctor, usually with someone else in close contact with the person, such as a spouse, parent or sibling or teacher; or babysitter. Other important steps include assessing the effects of symptoms on the person at work or in school, as well as at home and with friends; taking a complete medical history; and determining if the symptoms are better explained by another condition.
When evaluating adults, a doctor will examine a patient's symptoms against those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This guide lists the symptoms used to determine the diagnosis of ADHD in adolescents and children. These criteria may not be applicable to adults due to the different characteristics between children and adults. The clinician may also use the Brown Attention-Deficit symptoms assessment Scale for adults, which is a 40-item self-report test that assesses different aspects of the symptoms of ADHD.
During the interview with the patient the doctor will be looking to learn more about the individual's early life. Many adults suffering from ADHD don't remember their childhood well or even at all. The doctor will have to gather as much information as possible from the person's parents as well as teachers and other people who have known them in the past.
The physician will ask the patient to complete a questionnaire to see how they respond to certain situations, such as missing an appointment or losing their keys. The clinician will also discuss the individual's life style and family and work history. In addition, the clinician will ask for an inventory of the medications the individual takes and the current symptoms. The physician will determine if the symptoms are due to other conditions, such as anxiety or depression, and decide on the proper treatment plan.
Treatment
A clear diagnosis of adult ADHD is an essential step to receiving the proper treatment. Some people with ADHD may also suffer from comorbid disorders such as mood disorders and anxiety, which require treatment. Others have physical ailments that impact their symptoms. Whatever the cause of the symptoms, most adults who suffer from this disorder will benefit from the combination of psychotherapy and medication.
In general, a mental health professional will conduct the assessment for ADHD. The doctor will inquire about the patient's medical history, and also inquire about their school, work, and private lives. He may conduct an examination for psychological health or ask to speak with a spouse, parent or sibling to get more information that cannot be gleaned from questionnaires. Depending on the situation an examination for neurological or physical health 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 speak to family members, teachers, or coworkers for additional details. He may ask you or your child to remember how you acted when you were a child. Some experts believe that this interview is the most important part of an in-depth ADHD evaluation for children as well as adults.
Other tests could include a psychological test and cognitive behavioral therapy in order to address problematic behavior or thoughts like "thought distorsions" or self-defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist can help you or your child replace these unhealthy habits and beliefs with healthier ones.
Your therapist can help you in devising strategies to improve your organizing skills. For example using a daily planner and creating lists of tasks. They can also teach you skills to reduce the risk-taking and impulsive behavior and gain confidence. They can also recommend support groups, such as a life coach or ADHD coach.
Many people with ADHD find relief by taking stimulant drugs, such as methylphenidates or amphetamines. These medications are believed to increase levels of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter which affects attention and motor coordination. However, these drugs are only prescribed for those with a clear diagnosis and meet the specific requirements for the disorder.
Counseling
In some cases, people may find themselves referred to a specialist for ADHD but not having the disorder. This can cause stress for those referred (long waiting lists, lengthy tests, and then discovering they do not have ADHD) as well as a inefficient use of healthcare resources and higher costs. Inappropriate referrals could lead to an overdiagnosis of ADHD which could increase the risk of stimulant abuse and diversion in certain cases.
A complete ADHD evaluation should include a thorough diagnostic interview conducted by a trained doctor. This can include questions about the person's life in general, school or work, their relationship with their family and friends, alcohol and drug usage as well as driving history, medical concerns and their mental health history since childhood. The examiner will look to see if the individual meets the criteria for ADHD diagnosis (inattention hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsiveness). They will also determine if their symptoms can cause impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and rating scales for assessing ADHD symptoms can be useful. test adhd in adults can be administered by the person who is evaluating, or by an independent source, such as spouse. They can be extremely useful in cases where the person is uncertain of their own symptoms or believes there are other causes for their issues. The evaluator could also ask the person to fill out an retrospective ADHD behavior profile from their childhood.
Psychological testing is commonly used to provide a complete evaluation of a person's cognitive behavior, emotional and behavioral functioning. This may include behavioral assessments as well as rating scales and neuropsychological tests. This gives a greater picture than a diagnostic interview alone and can help to inform accommodations, interventions and treatment plans.