ADHD Assessment For Adults
The first step in determining whether your child or you is ADHD is to have an assessment. The clinician will ask you questions about your health, development, and family history. They may also consult with your friends, your partner or your teachers to help them develop an accurate picture of your symptoms.
The evaluation will ask you to rate your symptoms using scales of ratings. Make sure you answer truthfully for the most accurate results.
Diagnosis
Mental health professionals will analyze the signs and effects on the daily routine of the person to diagnose ADHD. They will ask the individual about their experiences from childhood including work and school experiences. They may also use standard scales and questionnaires to help determine whether ADHD symptoms are present. They also talk to friends, family and other people who know the person well.
A thorough evaluation of ADHD can take anywhere between one and three hours. It is important that the individual is prepared with a list of their symptoms and how they impact their lives. Also, they should provide their medical history and any other health conditions. It is also advisable to consult your insurance company to determine if ADHD assessments are covered by your insurance company.
The patient must be honest and transparent in completing the assessment. The clinician can ask for permission to interview other people, such as the spouse or close friend of the person to get a full picture of their life. They could also request their permission to speak with the parents or teachers to learn more about their childhood experiences and behavior.
Adults can suffer from ADHD but they aren't diagnosed if they didn't have symptoms as a child (technically before the age of 12). This is because the majority of people do not overcome ADHD. It is also crucial for the clinician to understand how the symptoms impact their lives, and in what circumstances they occur.
The diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms are significant enough to interfere with the ability of a person to function in at least two distinct areas of their lives like at home and at school. The symptoms must result in impairment that is enduring regardless of the individual's efforts to overcome them. Consult your doctor if you think that you might have ADHD. It's also recommended to reach out to others who suffer from ADHD and discuss your issues with them. They may have tips and suggestions that can help you manage your ADHD more effectively.
Treatment
A thorough ADHD evaluation can take anywhere from one to three hours. It is essential that the person undergoing the evaluation be prepared to answer all questions and provide the doctor the information they require. The evaluator will inquire about the patient's development medical and psychiatric history. They may also ask about other people like teachers, family members, and other health professionals.
The examiner may ask the patient if they have had any issues at school or work. The doctor will also look at how the symptoms of ADHD affect the person's daily life at home as well as in relationships.
Based on the results of the initial evaluation the evaluator could suggest further testing. This test is intended to identify other conditions, such as learning disorders and personality disorders that could exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD. In addition, the evaluator will look for seizure disorders and thyroid disorders.
adhd assessments for adults who are evaluated for ADHD may also be suffering from anxiety or depression. In these instances, the evaluator will discuss the options for psychotherapy. Generally, this will include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), designed to encourage self-mediation and control strategies. CBT can be delivered in a single session or in a group setting.
Some experts believe that people with ADHD should be offered psychotherapy along with medication. The majority of research suggests that ADHD is best treated with medication alone. A comprehensive ADHD assessment is essential to identify the treatment plan appropriate for each person.
If you're interested in getting an ADHD assessment, contact your insurance provider to determine if it offers specialists in ADHD diagnosis. You could also ask your family physician for recommendations. You can also contact your local chapter or the mental health professional association to find out if someone is a specialist in ADHD. You can also get referrals from support groups, like those for people suffering from bipolar disorder or depression.
Counseling
A good mental health professional will discuss with you in detail about the problems you are having, and the ways you've tried to resolve the issues. She will also inquire about your work and family life, and other issues like alcohol or drug abuse, and emotional traumas. She might also interview close family members, such as your spouse, another important person, or a coach or teacher who has known you since childhood to get their perspective about how you're feeling now as well as in the past. This is particularly important for adults whose memories about their past behaviors may be altered by ADHD symptoms.
It is possible that you will need additional tests done depending on your particular situation to rule out other causes that could be causing your problems. This could include cognitive tests to look for learning or intellectual impairments; medical tests such as for thyroid disorders or seizure disorder that can trigger symptoms that resemble ADHD and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to help you manage your emotions such as depression or feelings of failure that can exacerbate or cover up your ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy is a beneficial tool for adults suffering from ADHD because it will teach you new ways to manage their effects, both in the workplace and at home. It can help you develop better management skills and discover strategies to improve your focus, executive function and impulse control. It can also help improve your relationship with others and reduce your stress.
There are many mobile and online services that can assist you to find a therapist with expertise in adult ADHD. These services allow you to choose from a selection of licensed providers, including psychiatric nurses and social workers who are rated by their patients as excellent, very good or excellent. They can assist you in finding an appointment that is suitable for your lifestyle and your budget.
The American Psychiatric Association provides clinical guidelines for determining ADHD in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In the course of assessing you doctors will examine your symptoms to those described in this manual to determine whether or not you suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis requires the presence of symptoms in two or more settings such as school or at work and the symptoms are constant and debilitating; they began in childhood; and the symptoms can't be explained by a mental health disorder or medical condition like depression or anxiety.
Support
Many adults find the notion of ADHD as a stigmatizing condition and dismiss symptoms as an "normal" aspect of life. They will delay seeking treatment because they are afraid to admit that they struggle to keep on top of their tasks, being organized, or completing deadlines. A thorough evaluation by a mental health professional or health care provider is often the first step in treatment. The process focuses on the person's mood as well as their medical history as well as how symptoms impact the work environment relationships with family and friends and other aspects of daily life.
A comprehensive ADHD assessment can take several hours. The most important part is a thorough interview. The examiner asks standard questions to ensure that all symptoms are addressed, and then compares them to the ADHD diagnostic criteria. The examiner will review old school reports, questionnaires, and brain imaging, if it is available.
The report that is generated will aid in identifying any comorbidity. In other words, if a patient suffers from a different condition like anxiety or depression they may be able to overlap with ADHD symptoms. The report will also reveal any other factors that might cause a person's problems such as medical or learning disabilities.
If a diagnosis is made of ADHD The next step would be to find a therapist or psychiatrist with experience to treat this disorder. Contact your insurance company to determine whether they have coverage for providers who are experts in treating ADHD. If not, the patient should ask for referrals from other patients who have had success in treatment and request recommendations from local support groups.
A great resource for support is CHADD, a national organization with chapters throughout the U.S. Their website offers numerous details on ADHD and the names of professionals who have been trained in treating the disorder. It is also worth exploring social media sites, like Facebook which has a number of groups for people living with ADHD. Be sure to check that the group is not a commercial venture prior to you sign up.