How to Get an Accurate Assessment of ADHD
Many adults who are undergoing an ADHD assessment might exaggerate their symptoms or even fake them. Several studies (Marshall and co, Citation2016; Suhr et al, Citation2008) reveal that approximately 27% of adults under taking a thorough ADHD assessment have a false symptoms presentation.
Self-report ADHD behavior rating scales are sensitive but have low specificity. A more robust approach is the clinical interview data with neuropsychological testing and/or performance-based measures.
Diagnostic Criteria
If you're concerned that you might have ADHD it's crucial to get a professional evaluation. An accurate diagnosis can help you decide what treatment options are available and determine whether your symptoms meet criteria for a specific subtype of ADHD (inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined). To receive a formal diagnosis, you must first make an appointment with a skilled health professional. Your practitioner will review your medical history and inquire with you about the current issues. He or she might also ask about your symptoms when you were an infant, and later as an adult.
Psychologists and psychiatrists employ guidelines issued by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), in determining if someone suffers from ADHD. These clinical guidelines are called diagnostic criteria and they are similar to a list of symptoms. The guidelines require that symptoms be present for at minimum six months, and that they cause significant impairment in at least two areas of daily functioning.
Children and adolescents need to show symptoms before 12 years of age. For adults, they should have been evident since the beginning of childhood. To be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms cannot be better explained by another mental disorder (including mood disorders or anxiety disorders dissociative disorders, personality disorders).
It's important for people with suspected ADHD to discuss their concerns honestly and openly during a confidential interview with the evaluator. Based on the circumstances of the individual it might be essential for them to divulge personal information regarding risky lifestyle behaviors to his or her assessor. It is also beneficial to ask for the opinions of people who know the individual well, such as family members, former teachers as well as religious and scout leaders, coaches and employers.
The evaluator will employ one of several standardized questionnaires to rate your symptoms. These rating scales, which are often referred to as narrow-band scales, focus on assessing the core ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. They are based on research that has shown that these particular symptoms are more than just "normal" behavior.
Clinical Interview
The clinical interview is an important element of the ADHD battery. It assists the therapist in identify the primary symptoms and how they affect various life domains. It also helps the therapist identify if other disorders are present that are similar to or worsen ADHD such as depression and anxiety disorders.
The therapist will look over the patient's medical, developmental and family history to determine the effects of ADHD symptoms on their lives, both in the past and present. The therapist will evaluate how the symptoms impact the patient's social, academic or occupational performance. They will also look for comorbid disorders that may be the cause of the patient's symptoms as many adults with ADHD are prone to anxiety and depression disorders.
Several studies have shown the use of behavioral rating scales is not enough to determine ADHD. However they can be used to distinguish valid symptoms from invalid ones. Adding cognitive tests to the behavioral ADHD rating scale battery substantially improves the accuracy of diagnosis and using a combination of these tests provides the greatest diagnostic accuracy.
It is important that the therapist interviews the patient in an open and honest manner. It is not uncommon for adults suffering from ADHD to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their struggles, so they might hide information during the interview. This can seriously impair the accuracy of the assessment and may result in an underestimation or false negative of ADHD symptoms.
The therapist should inquire with the client about their experiences in various environments, such as at school, at home, and at work. They should also inquire about the individual about their personal relationships, like their relationship with their spouse or partner. The therapist should sit down with the patient and their family members to discuss the impact the symptoms of the person have on their lives. If this isn't possible the therapist can utilize a checklist of the person's symptoms.
Neuropsychological tests
A health care provider who does a neuropsychological evaluation may test your memory, thinking skills and other aspects of your cognitive performance. These tests can be performed using a computer or pencil and paper at the doctor's. They could include memory tests, such as repeating a list of words or numbers. They can also test your ability to draw and read. Other tests assess how quickly you process information, how quickly you identify people or objects and how fast you tell if two objects are identical (visuospatial skill).
The psychologist will review your medical history to see whether any injury or illness might be the cause of the issues you're having. They'll also ask about your mood and mental health including any depression or anxiety you've had. They might also interview family members, coworkers or even your friends to find out more about your personality.
A neuropsychologist can give you several different tests, and then compare your results to those of other people who took the same tests. This is an important element of the examination. It's called an normative comparison. This lets your doctor know if you are doing better or worse than other individuals who have taken the same test.
If your health care professional believes you are suffering from a medical issue and has a diagnosis, the results of the neuropsychological tests can aid them in deciding the best way to treat it. The results can be used to differentiate between normal cognitive changes that happen with age and actual cognitive decline due to an illness such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's.
The results can be used to help guide future treatments, like occupational therapy or speech therapy. They can help your doctor figure out what skills you're weak in and what strengths could be able to compensate, so they can focus on building those skills. They can also be useful in assessing how well you're reacting to any new pharmacological treatment, or noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or deep brain stimulation.
Family History
ADHD symptoms can be difficult to manage. I Am Psychiatry can cause difficulties at school or at work and can cause tension in relationships. Finding out that you have ADHD can help you get help. The process of diagnosing ADHD can be lengthy but it's well worth it. A licensed health professional or physician can determine whether a person is suffering from the disorder based on information from a variety of sources. These include the symptom list, standardized behaviour rating scales, and a thorough account of past and current functioning. They can also be gathered from relatives and other people who know the person well.
It's important to locate a health care provider with experience in diagnosing and treating adults suffering from ADHD. You can find an expert at the local mental health center or at your school. You can also seek an appointment from someone you are comfortable with.
The health history of your family members can be important for diagnosing ADHD. It is not uncommon for children of parents who have the disorder to also be diagnosed. Your health care provider will be looking for information on whether any of your family members suffer from the condition or have been treated for it.
A medical professional could ask about your family's diet, lifestyle and genetic background. They'll also ask if anyone has had any serious illnesses. This can aid in determining other ailments, like anxiety or depression.
The criteria for diagnosing ADHD is that the symptoms cause significant impairment in two areas of a person's life. It could mean the loss of employment due to inattention or forgetfulness, trouble keeping up with homework or paying bills, or problems in relationships. It could also mean difficulty staying on task at work, spending impulsively or reckless driving.
Some people with ADHD are able to manage their symptoms with a combination of medication diet, exercise, and therapy. If not treated, the symptoms could continue to interfere in a person's day-to-day functions and cause problems for their families and personal lives. The good news is that ADHD treatment is highly efficient for children as well as adults.