ADHD Assessment For Adults
The first step in determining whether you or your child is ADHD is to take an assessment. The clinician will interview you about your growth, health and family history. They might also speak with your partner, friends or teachers to obtain a more complete picture of your symptoms.
The evaluator will ask you to rate your symptoms using scales of ratings. Be sure to answer honestly to get the most accurate results.
Diagnosis
To determine if someone has ADHD mental health professionals will review the symptoms and their impact on the person's life. They will inquire about their experiences from childhood including work and school experiences. They may also use the standard scales and questionnaires in order to help determine whether ADHD symptoms are present. They may also conduct interviews with relatives, friends and people who know the person well.
A thorough assessment of ADHD can take between one and three hours. It is essential that the person is prepared with a list of the symptoms they experience and how they impact their lives. They should also bring a medical history and any other health conditions. You should also check with your insurance company to see if ADHD assessments are covered by your insurance company.
The person must be honest and forthcoming in completing the assessment. The clinician can ask for permission to speak with other people like the spouse or close friend of the patient, to get a complete understanding of their experience. They can also request their permission to speak with the individual's parents or teachers to find more about their childhood experiences and how they behave.
Adults can have ADHD but they aren't diagnosed if they didn't exhibit symptoms as a child (technically before the age of 12). This is because the majority of people don't outgrow ADHD. It is important that the clinician knows how the symptoms impact the patient's life and in the contexts they manifest.
ADHD is diagnosed when symptoms are severe enough to affect the functioning of an individual in at least two areas of their lives, like school and home. The symptoms must result in impairment that is enduring regardless of the individual's efforts to overcome them. Talk to your doctor if you think that you might have ADHD. You may also contact people with ADHD and speak to them about your symptoms. They may have some suggestions and advice that could help you to manage your condition better.
Treatment
A thorough ADHD assessment is typically lengthy, lasting from one to three hours. It is essential that the person undergoing the test be prepared to answer all questions and give the doctor the information they need. The evaluator can inquire questions about the patient's medical, developmental and psychiatric history. They may also ask other people to be interviewed such as teachers, family members and other care providers.
In the course of the evaluation the examiner will inquire about whether the patient has experienced any difficulties at school or at work. The clinician will also consider how the symptoms of ADHD impact the person's life at home and in relationships.
Depending on the outcomes of the initial assessment the evaluator could recommend further testing. This test is intended to determine other conditions, such as personality disorders and learning disorders that might have similar symptoms as ADHD. In addition, the examiner will screen for seizure and thyroid disorders.
Many individuals who are evaluated for ADHD have other mental health issues like anxiety or depression. In such cases the evaluator might discuss the options for psychotherapy. Generally, this will include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is designed to promote self mediation and control strategies. CBT can be delivered in a single session or in a group setting.
Some evaluators believe that patients with ADHD should be offered psychotherapy along with medication. However, the majority of research shows that ADHD is best treated by taking medication on its own. A comprehensive ADHD assessment is crucial to identify the treatment plan right for each individual.
If you're interested in getting an ADHD assessment, contact your insurer to see whether it has specialists for ADHD diagnosis. You may also request a referral from your doctor of family. You can also contact your local chapter or mental health professional association to find out who in your area is an expert in ADHD. You can also seek referrals from support groups, for instance those for people with depression or bipolar disorder.
Counseling
A competent mental health professional will be able to ask you lots of questions about your issues and how you've attempted to overcome these issues. see this site will also inquire about your family and professional life, and other issues such as alcohol or drug abuse and emotional traumas. You may also want to interview people close to you, such as your spouse or another significant person, or a coach, teacher or nanny who has known you from your childhood for their perspective on your previous and present functioning. This is particularly important for adults, as their memories of past behavior may be distorted by the presence or absence of ADHD symptoms.
It is possible that you will need additional tests performed based on your situation in order to rule out other possible causes of your problems. This could include cognitive testing to identify learning or intellectual impairments; medical tests like seizures or thyroid disorders, which can cause symptoms that look like ADHD; and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to help you manage your emotions like depression or feelings inadequacy that may exacerbate or conceal your ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy is a beneficial tool for ADHD adults, since it helps you deal with the effects of ADHD at work and home. It can help you develop better management skills and discover strategies to improve your focus as well as executive control and impulse control. It can also help improve your relationship with others and decrease your stress.
There are many mobile and online services that can help you find a therapist with expertise in adult ADHD. These services allow you to pick from a directory of licensed professionals like psychiatric nurses and social workers who have been rated as good, very good, or excellent by their patients. They can help you find a schedule that works for your lifestyle and your budget.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association contains clinical guidelines for diagnosing ADHD. During the examination doctors will evaluate symptoms with those in the manual to determine whether you suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis requires symptoms in more than one setting such as school or on the job and the symptoms are constant and debilitating; they began in childhood; and the symptoms can't be explained by another mental health condition or medical disorder, such as anxiety or depression.
Support
Some adults find the concept of ADHD as a stigmatizing condition and dismiss symptoms as a "normal" aspect of life. They will delay seeking treatment because they are afraid to admit to having trouble keeping on top of their tasks in a timely manner, or meeting deadlines. Often, the first step to treatment is a thorough examination by a health care professional or mental health professional. This process examines the person's mood and medical history, as well as how symptoms impact work, relationships with family and friends, and other aspects of everyday life.
A thorough ADHD evaluation can take a few hours. The most important thing is a detailed interview. The examiner will use an established set of questions to ensure that all relevant symptoms are addressed and compared to the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The examiner will go through older school reports, questionnaires, and brain imaging when they are available.
The report can help identify any comorbidity. This means, if the patient suffers from another illness like anxiety or depression, these can often overlap with ADHD symptoms. The report will also reveal any other factors that may contribute to the difficulties of a person like medical or learning disabilities.
If a diagnosis of ADHD is made the next step is to find an experienced therapist or psychiatrist who can treat the disorder. Check with your insurance provider to find out if they cover providers who are experts in treating ADHD. If not, they should ask other patients who were successfully treated for recommendations and seek recommendations from local groups.
CHADD is a national organization that has chapters throughout the U.S. Its website has a wealth information on ADHD and lists of professionals trained to treat the disorder. It is also worth exploring social media sites such as Facebook where there are a number of groups for people living with ADHD. Just be careful to ensure that the group you join isn't commercially-oriented.