ADHD Assessment For Adults
If you believe you or your child has ADHD The first step is to get an assessment. The doctor will talk to you about your development health, family history and health. They may also interview your friends, family members or teachers to gain an accurate picture of your symptoms.
You will be asked to rate your symptoms using a rating scale. Be honest and you will get the most accurate results.
Diagnosis
Mental health professionals will examine the signs and effects on the person's daily life to diagnose ADHD. They will ask the individual about their childhood experiences, including school and work experiences. They can also utilize standardized questionnaires and scales to determine the extent to which ADHD symptoms are present. They also talk to family members, friends and other people who know the person well.
A thorough assessment of ADHD can take anywhere from one and three hours. It is important for the patient to be prepared with a list of their symptoms and their impact on their lives. Also, they should bring their medical history as well as any other health issues. It is also advisable to consult your insurance company to determine whether ADHD assessments are covered.
It is essential that the person be honest and forthcoming during the examination. The counselor may request permission to interview other people such as spouse or a close friend, in order to get more of a complete picture of the person's life. They can also request their permission to talk with the individual's parents or teachers to find more about their childhood experiences and behavior.
While adults can have ADHD, they cannot be diagnosed with it if they didn't have symptoms during childhood (technically before the age of 12). This is because ADHD doesn't usually go away. It is also crucial for the doctor to know how the symptoms impact their daily life as well as in what settings they occur.
ADHD is diagnosed when symptoms are so severe that they interfere with the functioning of a person in at least two aspects of their lives, including school and at home. The symptoms must cause the impairment to persist, in spite of the individual's efforts to overcome them. Consult your doctor if you think that you may have ADHD. You may also contact those who suffer from ADHD and speak to them about your issues. You may get some helpful tips and advice from them to help you manage your condition better.
Treatment
A thorough ADHD assessment is typically long, lasting anywhere from one to three hours. It is crucial that the person taking part in the evaluation be prepared to answer all questions and give the doctor the information they need. The evaluator will inquire about the patient's development, medical and psychiatric history. The evaluator may also ask other people to be interviewed, such as relatives, teachers and other health professionals.
The evaluator may ask the patient if they've experienced any issues at school or work. The doctor will also look at how the symptoms of ADHD affect the person's daily family life and relationships.
Depending on the outcomes of the initial assessment, the evaluator may suggest further testing. This test is intended to detect other conditions such as learning disorders and personality disorders that might have similar symptoms as ADHD. The evaluator can also test for seizure or thyroid disorders.
Many people who are screened for ADHD also have other mental health issues like anxiety and depression. In these cases, the evaluator may discuss possible options for psychotherapy. Generally, this will include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that is designed to help promote self mediation and control strategies. CBT can be offered individually or in a group setting.
Some experts believe that ADHD patients should receive psychotherapy along with medication. The majority of studies show that ADHD is best treated using medication alone. A thorough ADHD evaluation is essential for determining the treatment plan that's right for each individual.
If you're interested in having an ADHD evaluation, check with your insurer to see if it offers specialists in ADHD diagnosis. You can also ask for a referral from your family doctor. Another option is to contact your local chapter of CHADD or a mental health professional association, for names of professionals in your region who specialize in ADHD. You can also ask support groups for referrals such as those that cater to people with bipolar disorder or depression.
Counseling
A good mental health professional will discuss with you in detail about the problems you are experiencing, as well as the methods you've tried to address them. She will also inquire about your family and professional life, and other issues, such as drug or alcohol abuse, and emotional traumas. You may also want to ask people who are close to you -- for example, your spouse or another important person, or a teacher, coach or nanny who knows you well from your childhood for their perspective on your past and current functioning. This is particularly relevant for adults, since their memory of past behavior might be distorted due to the presence or absence of ADHD symptoms.
Depending on the situation it is possible that you will require additional tests to rule out any other reasons for your problems. This could include cognitive tests for intellectual or learning impairment; medical exams for seizures or thyroid disorders which can cause symptoms similar to ADHD and psychotherapy to help cope with emotions such as depression or the feeling that you've failed.
Psychotherapy can be a useful tool for ADHD adults, as it teaches you to deal with the effects of ADHD at work and at home. It can aid in improving your organizational skills and teach you strategies to improve concentration, impulse control and executive functioning. It can also ease stress and improve your relationship with your spouse or with others in your life.
There are many online and mobile-based services that can help you locate a therapist that specializes in adult ADHD. These services allow you to pick from a directory of licensed professionals like psychiatric nurses and social workers who have been rated good, very good, or excellent by their clients. They can assist you in creating a schedule that fits your budget and lifestyle.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association contains clinical guidelines to diagnose ADHD. During the assessment process doctors will examine your symptoms with those described in this manual to determine if you are suffering from ADHD. A diagnosis is based on symptoms in more than one setting 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 condition or medical disorder such as anxiety or depression.
Support
Many adults find the notion of ADHD stigmatizing and dismiss symptoms as being a "normal" aspect of life. They are reluctant to seek treatment because they don't want 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 professional is usually the first step in treatment. This evaluation focuses on the patient's mood and medical history, as well as how symptoms impact work, relationships with family and friends, and other aspects of daily life.
A thorough ADHD evaluation may take several hours. The most important aspect of the assessment is an extensive interview. The examiner uses common questions to make sure that all symptoms are addressed and then compares them with 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 identify the presence of comorbidity. In other words, if a patient suffers from a different condition like anxiety or depression, these can often overlap with ADHD symptoms. The report will also reveal other factors that contribute to a person's difficulties like learning disabilities, medical conditions and stress.
If a diagnosis is made of ADHD The next step is to find a therapist, or psychiatrist who has experience to treat this disorder. The patient should contact their insurance provider to find out whether they have providers who specialize in treating ADHD covered under their policy. If they do not, they should inquire with other patients who were treated successfully for referrals and seek recommendations from local groups.
CHADD is a prestigious national organization with chapters in the U.S. Its website has a wealth information on ADHD and lists of professionals trained to treat the disorder. It is also worth exploring social media sites such as Facebook, where there are a number of groups for people who suffer from ADHD. Just be assessment of adult adhd to ensure that the group you join isn't an enterprise for profit.