ADHD Testing For Adults
Many adults who seek an ADHD assessment are referred by professionals who specialize in treating adults with ADHD. These professionals can be licensed psychologists or therapists.
Contrary to some online ADHD rating scales, an evaluation conducted by a trained professional can provide tangible results. A typical evaluation includes an interview with a patient as well as one or more people who know the patient well.
1. History of Symptoms
During the examination the health care professional will ask you questions about the issues that are affecting your daily life. For example, you may struggle to keep up with school or work, often lose items and have difficulty concentrating in class, or are easily distracted by things going on around you. It is also important to discuss the ways these issues have affected your family and relationships, because ADHD can cause problems in friendships, marriages and romantic relationships.
The doctor will conduct an examination to check for medical conditions that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. The doctor will also go over your medical and psychiatric history including any other health problems you have. In addition, the provider will need to know the family history of your parents, since ADHD can run in families.
Children and teens diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms in at least two distinct situations, such as at school and at home. Adults must satisfy at least five out of six criteria of the Diagnosis Statistical Manual of mental Disorders (DSM-5) and their symptoms must be severe enough that they affect their functioning in a variety of areas of daily life. The symptoms cannot be caused by other conditions, like anxiety or mood disorders.
Some people who do not have ADHD are not properly diagnosed due to a variety reasons, such as not knowing that the symptoms began in childhood or exaggerating their symptoms. Many adults with ADHD seek diagnoses because they are seeking access to medication or disability accommodations. It is essential to utilize a valid screen for ADHD as an adult to lessen the chances of making these errors. It is also essential to include a test that detects non-credible answers.
2. Medical History
There is no single test to determine ADHD and different doctors use different methods to screen adults. Most experts believe that a thorough clinical exam is the first step in any effective ADHD screening. This involves asking about medical or mental health history, as well as family history since childhood. The interview also looks at the person's symptoms and how they affect the way they live their lives. In addition to an interview, some psychologists employ standardized behavior rating scales and questionnaires, neuropsychological tests and other psychometric testing, like spatial or visual working memory, reasoning and (thinking) tests.
Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid problems and seizure disorders can trigger symptoms that are similar to those of ADHD. A doctor may perform an examination to rule these out. A psychiatrist will also look for any other mental disorders that may be manifesting symptoms, for example anxiety or depression.
A psychiatrist or psychologist might seek permission to speak with teachers, babysitters, coaches or other individuals who have spent time with a child or teen. This can give an accurate picture of the child's behavior and help identify other conditions that could be contributing to ADHD symptoms.
For adults, a psychologist or psychiatrist will usually ask the patient about their family and personal background, particularly when it comes to the presence of ADHD symptoms in childhood. The doctor will also ask if any members of the family have been diagnosed with ADHD. They will also interview the person about their work, home and social life. This can give insight into how the person is coping with stressors and other issues such as addiction or relationship issues.
3. Family History
People who suffer from ADHD often have an ancestry of the disorder in their family. It is highly genetically inherited which means that if your parents have been diagnosed with ADHD and you're a child, it's likely you'll be.
You'll be asked a lot of questions regarding your childhood, and any signs that may have occurred. It's essential that health professionals are aware of any issues you may have faced in your childhood because that's the time when the condition typically manifests. You might be asked what masking techniques that you have learned through the years. Some people learn to hide symptoms over time.
The process of evaluation can differ however, it usually involves a personal interview lasting up to three hours. The clinician will ask standard questions that have been planned to increase reliability and reduce the possibility of different interviewers coming to different conclusions. The interviewer might ask you how many symptoms of a condition you've experienced in the past six month.
It's also common to use rating scale questionnaires in a thorough ADHD screening. These are based on research that compares the behaviors of people with and without ADHD. They're not considered diagnostic by themselves, but they are an important component of the overall assessment.
The clinician may also interview other people such as your family members or spouse, or teachers or coaches who were with you in the early years of your life. This can help the practitioner get a more complete picture of your symptoms and determine whether they could be caused by a mental health disorder.
4. Personal Insights
One of the most important aspects of a thorough ADHD evaluation is the clinician's interview. They conduct a structured and standard interview, asking questions that are designed to gather all relevant information. This method increases the reliability of the interview, and reduces the likelihood of different evaluations coming to different conclusions about an individual.
The evaluator wants to know everything about your ADHD symptoms in the past and present as well as from childhood. They will ask you about how your symptoms affect your life and relationships. You will be asked to rate the frequency of your symptoms from never to very frequently. This is known as the Symptom Rating Scale (ASRS) and is available as an online version that you can download on your tablet or computer.
The healthcare professional may also conduct other behavioral assessments at your appointment along with the standard ADHD questionnaire. The examiner may use a checklist, a behavior scale for ADHD or other psychometric tests. They will also check for other conditions, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities that may look like ADHD or coexist with it.
They might also talk to others, such as friends or family to gain a better understanding of the person's behavior. They also conduct a physical exam and review medical history to rule out any other conditions that may be co-occurring with ADHD, such as seizures or thyroid problems. They could also use an examination that measures brain activity to determine whether ADHD is present. This is a completely non-invasive procedure that involves placing sensors on the scalp to monitor electrical activity.
5. Tests
There isn't one test to diagnose ADHD. Instead, health care professionals use the combination of physical exams, behavioral tests and questionnaires. Adult ADHD tests can be conducted by psychiatrists, as well as psychologists, neurologists and psychotherapists. They can also suggest a support group for adults who suffer from ADHD.
In most cases, the first step to conduct an ADHD assessment is to discuss symptoms with a healthcare professional. It is essential to provide accurate information. This includes whether the person is taking medication or has had medical issues. It's also beneficial to bring any notes or journals that detail the person's problems.
A mental health professional might ask about a person’s family history, their surroundings, their school or workplace performance, and also their behavior. They may also ask the patient to complete questionnaires and checklists. They can also ask family members as well as coworkers and friends who saw the person act in a particular way. It's not uncommon for doctors to inquire about teachers or childcare workers for their opinions.
Some doctors also use computer tests called continuous performance tests to test for ADHD symptoms like inattention and an impulsiveness. These tests involve the subject sitting in front of a computer screen that shows a sequence of visual targets. The test tests the patient's ability to remain focused and complete tasks, but they are controversial in some circles. Some experts believe that these tests are useless and expose patients excessive amounts of radioactivity ionizing.
Some doctors utilize brain scans to determine symptoms of ADHD. These tests show changes in the activity of the frontal brain lobes. However, tests for adhd in adults aren't widely accepted and haven't been demonstrated to increase the accuracy of a person's diagnosis.