ADHD Assessment For Adults
If you believe you or your child is suffering from ADHD the first step is to seek an assessment. The doctor will talk to you about your growth health, family history and health. They may also consult with your partner, your friends or your teachers to help them gain a better picture of your symptoms.
You will be asked to rate your symptoms on a scale of rating. Be assessment of adult adhd to answer honestly for the most accurate results.
Diagnosis
Mental health professionals will look at the symptoms and their impact on the person's daily life to diagnose ADHD. They will ask the individual about their childhood experiences as well as their school and work experiences. They can also use standard scales and questionnaires to help determine whether ADHD symptoms are present. They also talk to friends, family and other people who know the person well.
A thorough evaluation of ADHD can take anywhere from one and three hours. It is crucial that the person is prepared with a list of the symptoms they experience and how they impact their lives. Also, they should provide their medical history as well as any other health conditions. Also, you should check with your insurance company to determine whether ADHD assessments are covered by your insurance company.
The patient must be honest and open when they complete the assessment. The clinician can ask for permission to speak with other people like the spouse or close friend of the patient, to get a complete picture of their experiences. They could also request their permission to talk with the parents or teachers to learn more about their childhood experiences and how they behave.
Adults can have ADHD but they cannot be diagnosed if they did not have symptoms as a child (technically, before the age of 12). This is because ADHD doesn't usually go away. It is important that the doctor understands how the symptoms impact the patient's life and what situations they occur.
The diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms are significant enough to hinder the ability of a person to function in at minimum two different areas of their life such as at home and in school. The symptoms must cause an impairment that persists, in spite of efforts made by the person to overcome them. If you suspect you may have ADHD consult your doctor about having an assessment. It's also a good idea to contact others who suffer from ADHD and discuss your symptoms with them. You may get some helpful tips and suggestions from them that will assist you in managing your ADHD better.
Treatment
A thorough ADHD evaluation is usually long, ranging from one to three hours. It's important that the person taking the assessment takes the time to fully answer questions and provide information to the doctor. The examiner may inquire about the patient's medical, developmental and psychiatric experiences. He or she might also ask about other people, such as teachers, family members, and other health professionals.
The examiner may ask the patient if they have had any difficulties at school or 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.
Depending on the results of the initial evaluation the evaluator could suggest further testing. The purpose of this test is to identify other conditions like personality disorders and learning disorders that may have similar symptoms to ADHD. In addition, the evaluator will look for seizure disorders and thyroid disorders.
Many people who are evaluated for ADHD may also be suffering from anxiety or depression. In these instances the examiner may suggest possible options for psychotherapy. This usually includes cognitive behavioral therapy that is designed to help people develop strategies for self-medicating and controlling. CBT can be offered individually or in a group setting.
Some experts believe that people with ADHD should receive psychotherapy as a supplement to medication. However, the majority of research shows that ADHD is best treated by taking medication on its own. It is important to conduct an extensive ADHD assessment to determine the best treatment plan for each person.
If you are looking for an ADHD evaluation, contact your insurance provider to find out whether they have specialists for ADHD diagnosis. You can also request an appointment with your family doctor. Another option is to reach out to your local chapter of CHADD, or an association for mental health professionals for a list of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. You can also request referrals from support groups, like those for people suffering from bipolar disorder or depression.
Counseling
A competent mental health professional is going to ask you a lot of questions about your concerns and how you've attempted to resolve these issues. She will also inquire about your family and work life, and other issues, such as alcohol or drug abuse and emotional traumas. She may even want to ask people who are close to you -- for example, a spouse or other 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, as their memories of past behavior might be distorted due to the presence or absence of ADHD symptoms.
It is possible that you will need additional tests based on your specific situation to rule out other causes that could be causing your problems. This could include cognitive tests to determine if you have intellectual or learning impairments; medical tests like thyroid disorders or seizure disorder, which can cause symptoms that look like ADHD; and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to help you manage your emotions like depression or feelings inadequacy that may exacerbate or cover up your ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy is an effective option for adults suffering from ADHD because it can help you discover new ways to manage their effects at work as well as at home. It will help you improve your organization skills and develop strategies to improve your focus, executive function and impulse control. It can also help improve your relationships with others as well as reduce your stress.
There are numerous online and mobile-based services that can assist you to locate a therapist that specializes in adult ADHD. These services let you choose from a list licensed providers including psychiatric nurses and social workers who have been rated good or very good excellent by their clients. They can help you create an agenda that is compatible with 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. In the course of the evaluation doctors will examine symptoms with those in the manual to determine whether you suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis is made when symptoms occur in more than one environment like school or work, are debilitating and persistent, and began in childhood.
Support
Many adults find the notion of ADHD stigmatizing and dismiss symptoms as a "normal" part of life. They are reluctant to seek treatment because they don't want to admit that they struggle to keep track of their tasks in a timely manner, or completing deadlines. A thorough evaluation by a mental health professional or health care professional is often the first step in treatment. The evaluation will look at the patient's mood and medical history as well as how the symptoms affect the work environment, relationships with family and friends and other aspects of everyday life.
A complete ADHD assessment could take a few hours. The most important aspect is an in-depth interview. The examiner will use a set of standardized questions to ensure that all relevant symptoms are addressed and compared with the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The examiner will review older school reports questionnaires, as well as brain imaging, in the event that they are available.
The resulting report will aid in identifying the presence of comorbidity. If the patient also has anxiety or depression symptoms, they may overlap with ADHD. The report will also reveal any other factors that could contribute to a person’s difficulties, such as learning disabilities or medical conditions.
When a diagnosis of ADHD is made, the next step is to locate an experienced therapist or psychiatrist who can treat the disorder. The patient should check with their insurance company to see whether there are any specialists who treat ADHD covered under their plan. If there aren't, the patient should ask for referrals from other patients who have had success in treatment and request recommendations from local support groups.
CHADD is a prestigious national organization that has chapters across the U.S. Its website contains numerous details about ADHD and lists of specialists who are certified to treat the disorder. It is also worth looking into social media sites like Facebook which has numerous groups for people with ADHD. Make sure you verify that the group isn't a commercial venture prior to you join.