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ADHD Assessment For Adults The first step to determine if you or your child is ADHD is to have an assessment. The doctor will speak with you about your growth, health and family history. They may also consult with your friends, your partner or your teachers to help them get more information about your symptoms. You will be asked to rate your symptoms on a rating scale. Be sure to answer honestly to get the most accurate results. Diagnosis Mental health professionals will examine symptoms and their impact on the person's daily life to diagnose ADHD. They will inquire about their experiences from childhood including work and school experiences. They can also use standard scales and questionnaires to help determine whether ADHD symptoms are present. They may also conduct interviews with relatives, friends and people who know the person well. A thorough assessment of ADHD can take anywhere from one and three hours. It is crucial that the patient comes prepared with a list describing their symptoms and how they impact their lives. Also, they should provide their medical history as well as any other health issues. It is also advisable to consult your insurance company to determine whether ADHD tests are covered. It is vital for the patient to be honest and open during the examination. The clinician may ask for permission to interview others, such as the spouse or a close friend of the individual to get a full understanding of their experience. They can also request permission to speak with the person's parents or teachers to learn more about their childhood experiences and behavior. Adults may suffer from ADHD but they are not diagnosed if they did not exhibit signs as a young person (technically prior to the age of 12). This is because the majority of people don't outgrow ADHD. It is also important for the clinician to understand how the symptoms affect their life, and in which settings they occur. The diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms be significant enough to hinder a person's functioning in at minimum two different areas of their lives such as at home and at school. The symptoms must result in impairment that is enduring regardless of efforts made by the person to overcome them. If you think that you have ADHD consult your doctor about getting an assessment. You may also contact those who suffer from ADHD and speak to them about your symptoms. They might have some tips and advice for you to help you manage your condition better. Treatment A thorough ADHD evaluation can last anywhere between one and three hours. It is crucial that the person who is receiving the assessment takes the time to answer all questions fully and provide information to the doctor. The evaluator will ask about the patient's development, medical and psychiatric history. He or she might also ask questions of others like teachers, family members and other care providers. As part of the evaluation, the evaluator will ask about whether the patient has experienced any difficulties at school or at work. The doctor will also look at the ways in which the symptoms of ADHD affect the person's daily life at home and in relationships. Depending on the results of the initial test the evaluator might recommend further testing. The purpose of this test is to identify other conditions, such as learning disabilities and personality disorders, that could have similar symptoms to ADHD. The evaluator could also test for seizure disorders or thyroid disorders. Many people who are evaluated for ADHD may also be suffering from anxiety or depression. In these cases the examiner will discuss the options for psychotherapy. This usually includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which is designed to encourage strategies for self-medicating and control. I Am Psychiatry UK can be delivered in a group or individual setting. Some evaluators think that ADHD patients should receive psychotherapy in addition to medication. However the majority of research indicates that ADHD is best treated with medication alone. It is essential to conduct a comprehensive ADHD assessment in order to determine the best treatment plan for each patient. If you're considering getting an ADHD assessment, consult your insurance company to determine if it offers specialists in ADHD diagnosis. You can also ask for a referral from your family doctor. You can also contact your local chapter or the mental health professional association to find out who in your area is an expert in ADHD. You can also request referrals from support groups, like those for people suffering from depression or bipolar disorder. Counseling A competent mental health professional is likely to ask you lots of questions about your problems and the ways you've tried to solve these problems. She will inquire about your family and work life as well as other issues such as alcohol or drug abuse as well as emotional traumas. She might also interview people close to you, such as your spouse or a important person, or even a coach, teacher or nanny who has known you from childhood — for their insights into your past and present performance. This is particularly relevant for adults whose memories about their past behavior can be distorted due to ADHD symptoms. You may require additional tests based on your specific situation to rule out other causes that could be causing your problems. This might include cognitive testing to identify learning or intellectual disabilities; medical exams like thyroid disorders or seizure disorder and can cause symptoms that look like ADHD; and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to help you manage your emotions such as depression or feelings of failure that can exacerbate or mask your ADHD symptoms. Psychotherapy is a beneficial option for adults suffering from ADHD because it will teach you new ways to manage their effects at work as well as at home. It can help you improve your organization skills and provide strategies to improve your concentration, impulse control, and executive functioning. It can also ease stress and improve your relationship with your partner or other people in your life. Many mobile and online services can help you find an expert in adult ADHD. These services let you choose from a directory of licensed professionals, such as psychiatric nurse and social workers who have been rated as good, very good, or excellent by their clients. They can help you create an agenda that is compatible with your budget and lifestyle. The American Psychiatric Association provides clinical guidelines to diagnose ADHD in the fifth edition of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In the course of the evaluation doctors will evaluate symptoms to those listed in the manual to determine if you have ADHD. A diagnosis is made when symptoms are present in more than one place like school or work, are persistent and debilitating and began in childhood. Support Some adults find the concept of ADHD as a stigmatizing condition and dismiss symptoms as being a “normal” aspect of life. They will delay seeking treatment because they are afraid to admit they have trouble keeping track of their tasks and being organized or completing deadlines. A thorough evaluation by a mental health professional or health care professional is typically the first step towards treatment. This process examines the person's mood and medical history as well as how the symptoms affect work, relationships with family and friends, as well as other aspects of everyday life. A thorough ADHD assessment may take several hours. The most important part of the assessment is a thorough 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 look over the old school reports questionnaires, as well as brain imaging if they are available. The report that is generated will help to identify the presence of comorbidity. That is, if the 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 could contribute to the difficulties of a person such as learning disabilities, medical conditions and stress. When a diagnosis of ADHD is made, the next step is to find an experienced psychiatrist or therapist who can treat the disorder. Contact your insurance company to find out whether they will cover professionals who are experts in treating ADHD. If they do not, the patient must seek referrals from patients who have had success in treatment and request recommendations from local support groups. One excellent source of support is CHADD which is a national organization with chapters across the U.S. Their website contains an abundance of information about ADHD, including the names of professionals who have been certified to treat the disorder. There are also groups on social media sites such as Facebook for people suffering from ADHD. Be sure to ensure that the group you join is not commercially-oriented.