ADHD Assessment For Adults
If you think you or your child has ADHD the first step is to obtain an assessment. The doctor will ask you questions about your health, developmental and family history. They may also consult with your friends, your partner or your teachers to help them develop a better picture of your symptoms.
The evaluation will ask you to rate your symptoms using scales of rating. Make sure that you answer honestly to get the most accurate results.
Diagnosis
To diagnose ADHD mental health professionals will examine the symptoms and their impact on the person's life. They will inquire about their experiences since childhood including work and school experiences. They can also use standardized questionnaires and scales to determine whether ADHD symptoms are present. They will also interview relatives, friends and people who know the individual well.
A thorough evaluation of ADHD can take between one and three hours. It is important for the individual to come prepared with a list of their symptoms and their effects on their lives. Additionally, they should bring their medical history as well as any other health issues. Also, you should consult your insurance company to see whether ADHD assessments are covered.
It is essential that the person be honest and forthcoming during the evaluation. The clinician may ask for permission to speak with other people like the spouse or a close friend of the patient to get a full understanding of their experience. They can also request permission to talk to the individual's teachers or parents to learn more about his or her childhood experiences.
Although adults can suffer from ADHD but they can't be diagnosed even if they did not exhibit symptoms during childhood (technically before the age of 12). This is because ADHD does not always go away. It is important that the doctor understands how the symptoms affect the patient's life and in what situations they occur.
The diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms are significant enough to hinder the person's performance in at least two different areas of their life such as at home or in school. The symptoms must persist despite attempts to overcome them. Talk to your doctor if you think that you might have ADHD. It is also a good idea to contact others who suffer from ADHD and discuss your symptoms with them. You may get some helpful tips and advice from them that can aid you in managing your condition better.
Treatment
A thorough ADHD assessment can be lengthy, lasting between one and three hours. It is crucial that the person undergoing the assessment take the time to answer all questions and provide the clinician the information they need. The evaluator may ask questions about the patient's medical, developmental and psychiatric experiences. The evaluator may also interview others like family members, teachers and other healthcare providers.
The evaluator might ask the patient if they've encountered difficulties at school or at work. The doctor will also look at the way ADHD symptoms impact the patient's family life and relationships.
The evaluator may recommend further testing following the results of an initial evaluation. The tests are designed to detect other conditions, like learning disabilities and personality disorders which may exhibit similar symptoms as ADHD. In addition, the examiner will screen for seizure and thyroid disorders.
Many people who are screened for ADHD also have other mental health issues like anxiety or depression. In these cases the examiner may suggest possible options for psychotherapy. In general, this will involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to encourage self-mediation and control strategies. CBT can be offered in a group or an individual setting.
Some evaluators think that ADHD patients should receive psychotherapy along with medication. However, the majority of research indicates that ADHD is best treated with medication alone. assessment for adhd in adults is crucial to conduct an extensive ADHD assessment in order to determine the most effective treatment plan for each person.
If you're interested in an ADHD assessment, contact your insurance provider to find out whether they have specialists who specialize in ADHD diagnosis. You can also ask for an appointment with your family physician. Another option is to reach out to your local chapter of CHADD or an association for mental health professionals to get the names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. You can also ask support groups for referrals such as ones that cater to those with bipolar disorder or depression.
Counseling
A good mental health professional will be able to talk with you for a long time about the issues you're having, and the ways you've tried to address them. She will also inquire about your family and professional life, as well as other issues such as alcohol or drug abuse and emotional traumas. She might also talk to family members close to you, such as your spouse, another significant person or a coach, teacher or mentor who has known you since childhood, to get their perspective on your current situation and in the past. This is particularly important for adults, as their memories of past behavior may be influenced by the presence or absence of ADHD symptoms.
You may require additional tests done depending on your specific situation to rule out other causes that could be causing your problems. This could include cognitive tests to identify intellectual or learning impairments; medical tests like thyroid disorders or seizure disorder that can trigger symptoms that look like ADHD as well as psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to help you manage your emotions like depression or feelings failure, which can intensify or cover up your ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy can be a valuable tool for ADHD adults, as it teaches you how to deal with the effects of ADHD at home and at work. It can aid in improving your organizational skills as well as provide strategies to improve your concentration, impulse control, and executive functioning. It can also reduce distress and improve your relationship with your spouse or with others in your life.
Numerous mobile and online services can help you locate a therapist that specializes 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, excellent or excellent. They can help you find a schedule that works for your lifestyle and budget.
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 doctors will evaluate symptoms with those described in the manual to determine whether you suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis requires symptomatic behavior in more than one setting such as school or on the job; the symptoms are persistent and debilitating, they started in childhood; and the symptoms can't be explained by another mental health condition or medical disorder like anxiety or depression.
Support
Many adults find the notion of ADHD stigmatizing and dismiss symptoms as a "normal" aspect of life. They are reluctant to seek treatment because they don't want admit they have trouble keeping track of their tasks in a timely manner, or meeting deadlines. Often the first step toward treatment is a thorough evaluation by a health care provider or mental health professional. This evaluation focuses on the patient's mood, medical history and how symptoms impact the way they work, their relationships with family and friends, as well as other aspects of everyday life.
A complete ADHD evaluation can take a few hours. The most important part of the evaluation is an extensive interview. The examiner uses a set of standardized questions to ensure that all relevant symptoms are taken care of and compared with the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The examiner will review older school reports questionnaires, brain imaging, if they are available.
The report will help to identify any comorbidity. If a patient is also suffering from anxiety or depression symptoms, they can often be a part of ADHD. The report will also highlight other factors that cause a person's problems such as learning disabilities, medical conditions and stress.
If the diagnosis of ADHD is made The next step is to locate an experienced psychiatrist or therapist who can treat the disorder. Check with your insurance company to determine whether they will cover professionals who are specialists in treating ADHD. If there aren't, they should consult other patients who have been successfully treated to refer them to a specialist and seek recommendations from local groups.
One excellent source of assistance is CHADD the national organization that has chapters across the U.S. Their website has an abundance of information about ADHD and lists of professionals who have been trained to treat the disorder. It is also worth looking into social media websites, like Facebook where there are several groups for people who suffer from ADHD. Be sure to check that the group isn't a commercial venture prior to you join.