ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
During an ADHD test the doctor will ask you questions about your family and personal background, your work and school performance, and your environment. They will also take a medical history, including physical examination.
A complete ADHD assessment will include questions about your childhood and an assessment of any substance or alcohol use. Your physician will inquire about any conditions that may be akin to the symptoms that are that are associated with ADHD.
Symptoms
It is important for an adult who suspects they may have ADHD to consult their primary care physician. They can help you understand what it means to be diagnosed with ADHD and refer you to mental health care if necessary. You can also locate an individual counselor in your area who is specialized in ADHD.
To diagnose ADHD, a medical professional will employ an assessment tool. This typically involves a thorough interview and several questions about the symptoms. The evaluator wants to know your history and whether there were any significant childhood events that might have contributed to your symptoms and behavior. For example, if you were exposed to trauma or suffered from any medical conditions in your early years of childhood.
The evaluator then determines the severity of your condition. The evaluator will determine the extent to which your impairments impact your daily functioning. For example, if you have a significant problem maintaining your job or getting along with your family members, this could be considered to be an impairment. This is a crucial aspect of the process of diagnosing because it makes sure that your ADHD symptoms aren't caused by mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
In adhd in adults test to an in-depth 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. If necessary, the evaluator may also conduct neuropsychological, psycho-educational or learning disability tests. These tests can provide information about working memory deficits as well as executive functions capabilities, visual and spatial skills and other aspects.
You may be diagnosed with moderate or mild ADHD symptoms, based upon the interview and the assessment of symptoms. These levels are based on how ADHD symptoms affect you. For instance mild ADHD symptoms will have little impact on your work and social interactions. Moderate ADHD symptoms have a greater impact on your life. The most severe ADHD symptoms can impact all aspects of your daily life.
Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing ADHD isn't always easy, especially for adults. Although many Internet websites offer checklists of symptoms and questionnaires, the sole reliable diagnosis of ADHD is determined by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician). The process of evaluation involves an interview with the patient by a clinician, preferably in together with a person who is close to him or her such as a spouse or sibling, parent or coach or a babysitter. Other important steps include assessing the effects of symptoms on the person in school or at work and at home and with family members; taking an exhaustive medical history and determining whether the symptoms can be explained better by a different illness.
When evaluating adults, a doctor will evaluate a patient's symptoms against those listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This manual outlines the symptoms that are used to diagnose ADHD in teenagers and children. These criteria are not applicable to adults due to the distinct characteristics between children and adults. 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, the therapist may also want to know more about the child's past. Many people with ADHD do not recall their childhoods well or even at all. The doctor will need to collect as much information from the person's parents as well as teachers and other people who have known them in the past.
The doctor will ask the individual to complete a questionnaire to determine how they react to specific situations like not attending an appointment or losing their keys. He or she could also inquire about the person's family history, work history, and their lifestyle. Additionally, the doctor will request the list of medications the individual takes and the current symptoms. The clinician will determine whether the symptoms are due to other conditions, such as anxiety or depression, and decide on the proper treatment strategy.
Treatment
A precise diagnosis of adult ADHD is a critical step in getting the appropriate treatment. Some people with ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders that require treatment. Others have physical ailments that impact their symptoms. Whatever the cause of the symptoms, most adults who suffer from this disorder can benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Typically an expert in mental health will conduct the test for ADHD. The doctor will ask about the medical history of the patient, and ask about their school, work and private lives. He may ask to talk to your spouse, parent, child, or significant other to obtain more details that can't be gathered from an online questionnaire. Depending on the situation, an examination of the brain or a physical 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 interview family members, co-workers or teachers to get more details. He might ask you or your child to think about what you did when you were a child. Some experts believe this type of interview is an important part of a thorough ADHD evaluation for adults as well as children.
Other tests may include a psychological examination and cognitive behavioral therapy to address problematic behaviors or thoughts such as "thought distorsions" or self-defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist can assist you or your children to replace these harmful habits and beliefs with healthier ones.
Your therapist will help you create strategies to improve your organizational skills, such as using a daily planner or making lists of tasks. They can also teach you techniques to curb your the risk-taking and impulsive behavior and increase your confidence. They can also recommend support groups, like life coaches or ADHD coach.
Adults suffering from ADHD may find relief from stimulant medications such as amphetamines or methylphenidates. These medications are believed to boost dopamine levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter which affects motor coordination and attention. However, these drugs are only prescribed to those with a clear diagnosis and meet certain criteria for the disorder.
Counseling
In certain instances, people might be referred an expert for ADHD without having the disorder. This can cause distress to those who are referred to, waste of healthcare resources, and higher costs. Inappropriate referrals may also result in an over-diagnosis of ADHD (increasing the chance of stimulant use which can be a source of diversion and abuse in some cases) and can increase the number of people diagnosed when their symptoms are caused by other mental disorders like anxiety or depression.
A thorough diagnostic interview must be conducted by a qualified professional in the course of a thorough ADHD assessment. This could include questions about the person's daily life at work or school and their relationships with family and friends drug and alcohol usage, driving history, medical issues and their mental health history from childhood onwards. The examiner will look to determine if any of the criteria to diagnose ADHD apply to the person (inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness). They will also determine if their symptoms can cause impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and rating scales for assessing ADHD symptoms may prove useful. These can be administered either by the person who is evaluating, or by an independent source such as spouse. These tests are particularly beneficial for people who are unsure about their symptoms or believe they may have other reasons for their problems. The evaluator may also ask the person to complete an retrospective ADHD profile of their childhood behavior.
Psychological testing is often utilized to provide a comprehensive assessment of a person's cognitive behavior, emotional and behavioral functioning. This may include behavioral assessments as well as rating scales and neuropsychological tests. This provides a more comprehensive perspective than a diagnostic interview on its own, and is used to guide accommodation, interventions, and treatment plans.