ADHD Adult Test - Important Steps in Diagnosing Adult ADHD
In an ADHD test, your doctor will ask you questions about your personal and family background, your work and school performance, as well as your surroundings. They will also inquire about your medical history as well as conduct a physical examination.
A full ADHD assessment will include questions about your childhood and a review of any drug or alcohol use. Your physician will inquire about any comorbid conditions which may be akin to the symptoms that are associated with ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
If you suspect that an adult may have ADHD or other disorders, it is essential to talk to an primary care physician. They can assist you to understand what ADHD is and refer you to mental health services, if needed. You can also find a local counselor who specializes in ADHD.
A healthcare professional may use tools to determine ADHD. This usually involves a comprehensive interview and an array of questions regarding symptoms. The evaluator will want to know your background and whether there were any significant events during your childhood that might have contributed to your symptoms and behavior. You can tell the evaluator whether you suffered trauma or a medical illness during your early childhood.
The evaluator then determines the severity of your condition. The evaluator will decide the extent to which your impairments impact your daily functioning. For example, if you are having a difficult time maintaining a job or interacting with your family members, this would qualify as impairment. This is a crucial part of the diagnosis process since it ensures that your ADHD symptoms aren't caused by mental health disorders 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. If necessary, the examiner can also conduct neuropsychological, psychological or learning disability testing. These tests may provide information about working memory impairments as well as executive function abilities and spatial and visual skills.
You could be diagnosed with moderate to mild ADHD symptoms based on the interview and symptom assessment. These are different levels of the disorder and they are a reflection of the way your ADHD symptoms impact your daily life. Mild ADHD symptoms, for instance, will have minimal impact on your social and work interactions. Moderate ADHD symptoms will have a greater impact on your life, while severe ADHD symptoms can affect every aspect of your life.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing ADHD isn't easy especially for adults. While a lot of Internet websites offer checklists of symptoms and questionnaires, the only legitimate diagnosis of ADHD is determined by an accredited mental health specialist or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist or family doctor). The process of evaluation involves a conversation with the individual by a doctor, usually in together with a person who is close to them such as a spouse, parent, sibling, teacher or coach, or babysitter. Other important steps include determining the impact of symptoms on the individual at work or in school, as well as at home and with friends; taking a complete medical history; and determining if the symptoms can be explained by another condition.
In evaluating adhd testing adults , the physician will review the patient's symptoms in relation to those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This guide outlines the symptoms that are used to make an assessment of ADHD in adolescents and children. However, due to the differences between children and adults, these criteria are not always appropriate for diagnosing adults with the disorder. The doctor may also employ the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale For Adults. This is a 40 item self-reporting test that measures different aspects ADHD symptoms.
During the interview the doctor will want to learn more about the person's childhood. Many people with ADHD have erratic or shaky memories of their childhood behavior, and the clinician will seek as much information as possible from teachers and relatives, and other people who have known the person in the past.
The clinician may also ask the patient to fill out a questionnaire that looks at how the person responds to certain situations, like missing his keys or not attending appointments. The clinician will also talk about the person's life style and the family and work history. The physician will also ask the patient to list the they are taking medications and the current symptoms. The clinician will determine if the symptoms are caused by other issues like depression or anxiety disorders and then choose the best treatment plan.
Treatment
A precise diagnosis of adult ADHD will help you get the appropriate treatment. Certain people suffering from ADHD also have comorbid conditions like anxiety and mood disorders, which require treatment. Others have physical ailments that affect their symptoms. Whatever the cause of symptoms is, most people suffering from this condition will benefit from an individualized psychotherapy program and medication.
Typically an expert in mental health will conduct the test for ADHD. The doctor will look over the medical history of the patient and inquire about school, work and personal issues. He may request to speak with your spouse or parent, child or significant other to get more information that cannot be obtained from an online questionnaire. A physical or a neurological examination may be required, based on the situation.
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 to get additional information. He may ask you or your child to remember how you behaved as a child. Some experts believe that this interview is an essential part of a thorough ADHD assessment for adults and children.
Other tests could include a psychological exam and cognitive behavioral therapy to address troublesome thoughts or behavior like "thought distortions" or self-defeating beliefs. A cognitive behavioral therapist can help you or your child replace these destructive habits and beliefs with healthier ones.
Your therapist can help you develop strategies to improve organizational abilities, such as using a daily planner or making lists of tasks. They can also help you learn skills to reduce impulsive and risk-taking behaviors and build confidence. They can also recommend support groups, like life coaches or ADHD coach.
Some people suffering from ADHD find relief by taking stimulant medications like methylphenidates and amphetamines. These medications are believed to increase the brain's natural levels of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that affects attention and motor coordination. These drugs are only prescribed to those with a clear diagnosis of the disorder and who meet specific criteria.
Counseling
In some instances, people are sent to a specialist without even having ADHD. This can result in distress for those referred, inefficiency of healthcare resources, and increased costs. Unsuitable referrals can lead to overdiagnosis of ADHD which could increase the likelihood of abuse of stimulants and diversion in certain cases.
A detailed diagnostic interview should be conducted by a qualified professional as part of an extensive ADHD evaluation. This may include questions about the person's everyday life at work, school relationship with family and friends or friends, alcohol or drug use, driving record, medical issues, and mental health history since childhood. The examiner will want to see how many of the criteria used to diagnose ADHD apply to the person (inattentiveness as well as hyperactivity and impulsiveness). They will also look into whether their symptoms cause impairment.
Standardized questionnaires and rating scales to assess ADHD symptoms may prove useful. They can be administered by the person who is evaluating, or by an independent source such as a spouse. They are particularly helpful in cases where the person is uncertain of their own symptoms or believes there are other reasons for their problems. The evaluator could also ask the person to fill out a retrospective ADHD profile of their childhood behavior.
Psychological testing is a method to evaluate a person's cognitive functioning, behavior and emotional state. It can involve clinical interviews as well as rating scales behavioral assessments, neuropsychological tests, intelligence and mood tests. This gives a greater picture than a single diagnostic interview and can be used to guide the treatment, accommodations, and intervention plans.