ADHD Assessment For Adults
The first step to determining whether your child or you is ADHD is to get an assessment. The doctor will talk to you about your growth health, family history and health. They may also ask your family members, friends, or your teachers to help them gain an accurate picture of your symptoms.
The evaluation will ask you to rate your symptoms using rating scales. Be sure to answer honestly to get the most accurate results.
Diagnosis
Mental health professionals will analyze symptoms and their impact on the individual's daily activities to diagnose ADHD. They will inquire about their experiences from childhood as well as their school and work experiences. They can also use standardized questionnaires and scales to determine the extent to which ADHD symptoms are present. They may also conduct interviews with family members, friends, and others who know the individual well.
A thorough evaluation of ADHD can take between one and three hours. It is essential that the patient comes prepared with a list describing the symptoms they experience and how they impact their lives. Also, they should provide their medical history as well as any other health issues. Also, you should inquire with your insurance provider to determine if ADHD assessments are covered by your insurance company.
It is vital for the patient to be honest and forthcoming during the evaluation. The clinician may ask for permission to interview others like the spouse or close friend of the individual to obtain a complete picture of their experiences. They can also request their permission to speak with the individual's parents or teachers to find more about their childhood experiences and behavior.
Adults may suffer from ADHD but they aren't diagnosed if they didn't exhibit signs as a young person (technically prior to the age of 12). This is because ADHD doesn't usually go away. It is also important for the doctor to know how the symptoms affect their lives, and in what circumstances they occur.
ADHD is diagnosed when the symptoms are so severe that they interfere with the functioning of a person in at least two different areas of their lives, such as school and at home. The symptoms should persist despite the person's attempts to overcome them. If you think that you may have ADHD, talk to your doctor about having an assessment. You can also reach out to people with ADHD and speak to them about your issues. They might have some tips and advice to help you manage your ADHD more effectively.
Treatment
A thorough ADHD assessment can be long, ranging between one and three hours. It is important that the person undergoing the test spend the time to answer all questions and give the doctor the information they need. The evaluator will ask questions about the patient's developmental medical and psychiatric background. They may also ask about other people such as relatives, teachers and other care providers.
As part of the assessment the examiner will inquire about whether the patient has been having issues at school or at work. The therapist will also take into consideration the ways in which the symptoms of ADHD affect the person's daily life at home as well as in relationships.
Based on the outcomes of the initial assessment the evaluator could recommend further testing. The tests are designed to determine other conditions, including personality disorders and learning disabilities, that could have similar symptoms to ADHD. In addition, the examiner will look for thyroid disorders and seizure disorders.
Many people who are evaluated for ADHD may also be suffering from depression or anxiety. In these instances the evaluator will talk about the options for psychotherapy. Generally, this will include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), designed to encourage self-mediation and control strategies. CBT can be provided either in a private or group setting.
Some evaluators believe that patients with ADHD should receive psychotherapy along with medication. However adult adhd assessment of research shows that ADHD is best treated with medication on its own. It is essential to conduct a thorough ADHD assessment to determine the best treatment plan for each patient.
If you're considering getting an ADHD evaluation, check with your insurance company to determine if it offers specialists in ADHD diagnosis. You can also ask for an appointment with your family doctor. Another option is to contact your local chapter of CHADD, or an association for mental health professionals for a list of professionals in your region who specialize in ADHD. You can also request referrals from support groups, such as ones that cater to those with bipolar disorder or depression.
Counseling
A competent mental health professional will be able to talk with you for a long time about the issues you are facing, and the solutions you've tried to resolve them. She will also ask about your family and work life, and other issues like alcohol or drug abuse and emotional traumas. She may also want to talk to family members close to you, such as your spouse, other significant people, or a coach, teacher or mentor who has been with you since childhood, to get their perspective on how you are currently and in the past. This is particularly important for adults whose memories of past behaviors may be altered by ADHD symptoms.
It is possible that you will need additional tests based on your specific situation to rule out any other possible causes of your difficulties. This could include cognitive testing to identify intellectual or learning impairments; medical tests like seizures or thyroid disorders and can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD; and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to assist you in dealing with emotional issues like depression or feelings of failure, which can intensify or mask your ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy can be a valuable tool for ADHD adults as it teaches you to cope with the effects of ADHD at work and at home. It can help improve your organizational skills and teach you strategies to improve concentration, impulse control and executive functioning. It can also help improve your relationship with others and decrease your stress.
There are numerous mobile and online services that can help you find a therapist with expertise in adult ADHD. These services let you choose from a list of licensed providers, which includes psychiatric nurses and social workers, who are rated by their patients as very good, good or excellent. They can assist you in determining 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. In the course of assessing you doctors will evaluate your symptoms with those described in this manual to determine if you suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis is made if symptoms occur in more than one setting, such at work or at school, and are persistent and debilitating and started in childhood.
Support
For some adults, the idea of having ADHD is a source of shame and it's easy to dismiss symptoms as "just being me." Many people will avoid seeking treatment for a long period because they do not want to admit that they have problems keeping track of things, getting organized or meeting deadlines. Often, the first step to treatment is a thorough examination by a health care provider 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 complete ADHD evaluation may take several hours. The most important part is an in-depth interview. The examiner uses standard questions to ensure that all symptoms are addressed, and then compares them to the ADHD diagnostic criteria. The examiner will also look over old school report cards, questionnaires and, in the event that they are available brain imaging.
The report will help to identify comorbidity. In other words, if a patient suffers from another illness like anxiety or depression and anxiety, they can be associated with ADHD symptoms. The report will also highlight any other factors that might contribute to the difficulties of a person like medical conditions or learning disabilities.
When the diagnosis of ADHD is made The next step is to find an experienced psychiatrist or therapist who can treat the disorder. Contact your insurance company to find out if they cover providers who are specialists in treating ADHD. If not, the patient should ask for referrals from other patients who have been treated successfully and request recommendations from local support groups.
One excellent source of assistance is CHADD the national organization that has chapters throughout the U.S. Their website contains a wealth of information 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 where there are several groups for people with ADHD. Make sure you verify whether the group is a commercial venture prior to you sign up.