ADHD Assessment For Adults - What to Expect
Your primary care physician or support group for adults with ADHD can recommend a certified health professional who can perform these assessments. You can also check your health insurance company's online directory for specialists.
Typically, an assessment takes approximately one to three hours. It begins with a thorough discussion about your work, family, and life history.
What to Expect
If you think you or someone in your family might have ADHD, it is important to first take the first step and see an expert. Your GP can talk to you about your symptoms, ask about your family history and inquire about any other conditions that you might have, but they aren't able to diagnose ADHD themselves. Instead, they'll need to refer you to a mental health specialist, typically a psychologist, for an ADHD assessment.
The initial assessment could take several hours. During the interview, you'll be asked a series of questions about your past and present behavior. The doctor will also inquire you about your past and present relationships. The interview will determine if you meet the ADHD criteria as defined in the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association.
To be diagnosed as having ADHD, you will have be able to prove that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at minimum two settings in your life. This could be at home, at work or in your social life. Examples of impairment would include having difficulty keeping a job, being incapable of maintaining a healthy relationship or getting into financial difficulties due to reckless spending.
Depending on your situation, your doctor may also conduct some neuropsychological or psychological tests. These tests do not diagnose ADHD however they can provide important information about the ways that your ADHD affects you. These tests can also be used to identify other comorbidities like anxiety and depression.
Your GP will conduct a physical examination and take a medical history prior to or during the examination. This will enable them to determine if there are any other medical conditions that could be the cause of your symptoms, like thyroid or seizure disorders. They will also need to know any previous medical or psychiatric diagnoses you've had as some of these can appear similar to ADHD and may have been incorrectly diagnosed.
During the Evaluation
An interview with a mental healthcare professional may include questionnaires that the patient has to fill in. It could also involve an interview with the family member or significant other. This is beneficial in that the person might not realize that their symptoms are causing problems for others. It can also be used to identify any co-occurring mental health problems that require treatment.
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be a bit daunting for adults, especially when they're older and have lots of things to attend to. A diagnosis can change your life dramatically. A diagnosis helps you realize that the inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity aren't due to personal failing or due to lack of effort, but that there is an underlying neurological issue that causes them.
Your child or you may need to exhibit symptomatic behaviors in at least two different environments (home, school, and work) that cause significant impairment. Some of these symptoms should have been present since early childhood, and can't be explained by a different disorder.
A physical exam is usually recommended as a part of the examination, since certain medical conditions (such as seizures and thyroid issues) can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD. A physical exam can help the evaluator rule out other causes for the symptoms.
The evaluator will review the patient's medical history and the psychiatric symptoms. They will also discuss the patient's present situation and assess the impact of the symptoms on their daily activities. It's usually helpful for the evaluator talk to people who know the patient well, such as friends or family members.
The evaluator will apply the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to establish the diagnosis. They will ask them to explain in detail their symptoms and how they impact the individual's performance. They will also look at whether there exist any mental health conditions that require treatment like depression or anxiety.
During the Follow-Up
After an ADHD assessment has been completed the treatment plan will be developed. Often, this will include psychotherapy and medication. It is important to keep in mind that it may take time to establish the proper medication dosage and to see the effects of therapy. The most important thing you can do is to adhere to the treatment. During one-on-one sessions, it's important to be honest and open with your psychiatrist. This will ensure you receive the best care possible.
You will be asked to fill in an array of pre-screening questions prior to meeting with the psychiatrist. These can be found on your portal's dashboard. They should be filled out prior to your appointment. This will speed up the duration of your appointment, and ensure that you meet your evaluator as soon as possible.
The evaluation will include an examination of your body and examine your medical history during the initial session in person. Based on the individual the exam may also include a hearing and vision screening. This is done in order to rule out medical causes of the symptoms.
The next step is a detailed interview that can last from one to three hour. This gives the patient to discuss their health issues in detail with the evaluator and explain how they affect their daily life. The evaluator will inquire into a wide variety of topics, including relationships with work, school sleep patterns, eating habits. The evaluator could also choose to interview people who are close to the patient, such as their spouses, parents, siblings teachers, coaches, and daycare providers. This can provide information that is not obtainable from self-report questionnaires. It also helps the evaluator to confirm the presence of ADHD symptoms and determine the severity and extent to which they affect functioning.
The evaluator will then conduct an examination that looks at various areas that are that are affected by the disorder, such as restlessness, inattention, and impulse control. The evaluator can also inquire about the symptoms in different environments and under different stressors. ADHD can manifest differently in different situations.
After adult adhd assessments will take notes as you describe your symptoms and respond to questions. This part of the evaluation usually lasts between one to three hours, and may involve multiple meetings or questionnaires. You may be asked to supply some medical information, like a family history of health issues and your current medications. This will allow the evaluator to determine if your symptoms are due to something else.
You might be required to fill out ADHD ratings scales or behavioral tests. The evaluator will also review your medical history and perform a physical exam. It is essential to rule out other medical conditions that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms, for example seizures or thyroid disorders.
The evaluation will also speak to people who know you well, including teachers and coworkers. These interviews will help the evaluator to understand the impact of your symptoms on your school or work. It is crucial to be open about your symptoms and how they impact the people around you as well as you.
Once the evaluator has gathered all of this information, they will prepare an evaluation report for you. They will present the findings and provide a possible diagnosis. If they decide that you suffer from ADHD they will discuss ongoing treatment and support with you. If they don't find that you are suffering from ADHD they will speak to you about any other mental health issues and recommend ways to help.
It can be a daunting procedure to undergo an ADHD evaluation, especially in the case of an adult. It can be particularly difficult if you've been denied a previous diagnosis because many medical professionals have preconceived beliefs regarding what ADHD is like in appearance and sound.
However, it is never too late to seek an ADHD assessment. If you have been struggling for a long time an assessment can provide you the confidence and knowledge that you should seek treatment. It can also help strengthen your relationships with your family members. You can find out more about the symptoms and signs of ADHD on our website. You can also download a support letter from ADHD UK to present to your GP.