How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD
If you suspect that your child or you may be suffering from ADHD is important to seek medical help. You can start by asking your doctor for an appointment with an ADHD specialist or seeking out professionals recommended by your friends and family.
Adults with ADHD are more difficult to diagnose than children. A thorough assessment will include interviews with the patient, their parents, teachers, and completed rating scales. It will also contain information about their history.
1. Speak to Your Doctor
If you or your child suspect that they might have ADHD, you should consult with your family physician. They can evaluate your symptoms, and recommend you to an expert in mental health for a more thorough assessment. Make sure you are prepared for your appointment by looking up online for information on ADHD and keeping a diary of your symptoms. This will help you stay focused during the discussion and ensure that all your concerns are addressed.
Your doctor will conduct an in-depth interview, taking into consideration the symptoms you have or the symptoms of your child. Depending on the situation, they might ask you to fill out checklists or questionnaires, and also collect feedback from teachers and other adults who spend long periods of time with your child or you. This process could take up to an hour or longer.
To be able to diagnose ADHD, the behavior has to be evident in at minimum two environments that include school and at home and be a negative influence on your life. For instance, you may not be able to concentrate to class or miss important information while working. The symptoms are expected to be present for a long period of time, beginning before the age of 12 and they are not caused by any other medical or psychological disorder.
Children are usually diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten or elementary school as parents notice that they are unable to remain still for long periods of time or follow directions, or wait their turn. It's not unusual for adults to go for years without being diagnosed, even after they've been fighting with the symptoms for the entirety of their lives.
While you could try this out may be reassuring and eye-opening, it can also feel overwhelming. You must deal with this new information in the middle of your life and it's often easy to find a physician who can understand your concerns.
You should seek out someone who has expertise in evaluating and treating adult ADHD patients. They can accurately determine your symptoms and give treatment recommendations. Once you've got a treatment plan, it's important to adhere to it and attend regular check-ins.
2. Take the test
The first step in determining whether your child or you has ADHD is to take an assessment. Many health professionals can conduct this test, and some insurance policies have specialists listed who evaluate adults with ADHD.
A mental health professional will start by examining your child's symptoms, including when they started and the length of time they've been occurring. They will also be looking to determine the impact your symptoms have had on your professional and personal lives. You and your family will be interviewed. In some instances, the evaluator will ask your spouse or significant other to fill out questionnaires on how your conditions have impacted their lives, too.
Some of the most prevalent symptoms of ADHD for adults include difficulty paying attention, frequent forgetfulness and not being able to complete tasks. Other symptoms include impulsive behavior like interrupting other people in conversations or activities and not waiting for their turn, and doing things quickly without planning.
The process of diagnosing ADHD is more difficult for adults than for children, as the symptom guide that most doctors use, the DSM-5, is designed for diagnosing kids. Certain doctors have preconceived notions of what people with ADHD could appear like. It's important to choose an evaluation provider who is able to thoroughly evaluate you or your child.
Some mental health professionals use broad spectrum scales to determine mental or emotional disorders, as well as tests of motor and memory skills. In addition, they can do a brain scan or refer you to a specialist to provide more information on how your symptoms impact your physical health and how your brain functions.
In most instances, you'll receive an evaluation report that outlines the evaluation's findings. They will discuss the results and provide suggestions for how to assist. You should experience a positive outcome. Many report that the evaluation is therapeutic and that they feel heard and appreciated. This is particularly true for adults who have never been diagnosed with ADHD and is an essential element of receiving the treatment you need.
3. Visit a Psychiatrist
Adults typically seek treatment for ADHD when they realize that the disorder has a negative impact on their relationships or work. During the appointment, doctors interview patients and inquire about their symptoms. They may also look over documents like old school reports and performance evaluations. Adults must meet lower thresholds than children in order to receive a diagnose that includes five or more signs within the last six months.
For adults, the doctor may ask about relationships and work issues, how they sleep and whether they have any problems with substance use. They'll also inquire if a person had ADHD symptoms as when they were children. If so, the doctor will use a different checklist to evaluate the current symptoms.
Some psychiatrists are experts in treating adults with ADHD. This can make it easier to get an appointment and prescription. You can find doctors in your area that treat adults with ADHD by calling your insurance company or looking up online for resources. For instance, Talkspace connects people with mental health professionals who have had experience treating ADHD. Some psychiatrists allow televisits, which lets you complete your appointments from your home or another location.
You may be able locate a psychiatrist that specializes in ADHD through your insurer or local medical society. You can also look online or ask your friends for suggestions. The word of mouth is usually the most reliable indicator of a person's capabilities. You should also consider aspects like the gender and culture of a psychiatrist, or if they're LGBTQIA+ or kink allied.
The psychiatric doctor may suggest alternative solutions to help treat your ADHD symptoms, in addition medication. For instance, they could recommend counseling, which can assist you in addressing emotional issues that can cause ADHD. They may also suggest therapy for families and marriages. This type of therapy is focused on improving communication and dealing with problems that arise when someone suffering from ADHD struggles with relationships and work.
It's important to remember that the most successful treatment for ADHD is to combine medication with behavioral and lifestyle changes. The aim is to lessen the symptoms to allow you to function better at work, remain healthy, and enjoy the life you deserve.
4. Schedule and an Evaluation
Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are able to determine if ADHD symptoms have reached the point where they interfere with everyday functioning. A thorough interview will be used to look at your child's development, personal and family history, as well as social life. They may also want to interview other people, such as teachers or coaches. Parents are often tempted to diagnose their children's ADHD on their own. ADHD but this could be harmful. Visit your doctor and request an appointment with a specialist in mental health who will perform a thorough assessment.
Bring all relevant medical and psychiatric documents, as well as school/work records, to your appointment. Your child or you will also need to be prepared to describe how the symptoms have affected your or your child's relationships, work or play. Your doctor will want to know how often symptoms are present, for the length of time they've been present and how severe they are. They can also use various questionnaires to assess symptoms.
Certain doctors use the guidelines known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) to help determine if someone suffers from ADHD. They will determine how many of these symptoms you or your kid has:
To be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms must have been present since childhood and have affected your child or you at home, at school as well as in social settings. They must also cause significant impairment, and not be the result of a different issue like depression or anxiety.
A pediatrician or psychiatrist will compare the behavior of children with those of children of their age group and grade level. They will also evaluate their IQ as well as their emotional and social skills and the history of their family and lifestyle.
Adults who have difficulty keeping up with expectations in the workplace or marriage, or have trouble managing their finances or keeping track of their appointments may also be assessed for ADHD. They will be asked to assess how often they misplace things, interrupt others, fail to remember important dates and tasks or make rash decisions. They could be provided with an assessment scale for their behavior and asked to get feedback from those they spend lots of time with, for example, siblings or spouses for adults, or a coach, teacher or daycare child care worker.