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ADHD Assessment For Adults – What to Expect Your primary care physician or a support group for adults suffering from ADHD can suggest a qualified health professional who can perform these assessments. You can also check your health insurance plan's online directory of specialists. The typical assessment lasts between one and three hours. The test starts with a detailed interview about your family's history, your work and your personal life. What to Expect If you are concerned that you or someone in your family could be suffering from ADHD, it is important to take the first step to see a doctor. Your GP might inquire about your symptoms, and ask about the history of your family, but they are not able to diagnose ADHD. Instead, they'll have to refer you to a mental health specialist usually a psychologist to conduct an ADHD assessment. The initial assessment may take several hours. During the interview, you'll be asked a series of standard questions about your past and current behaviour. The doctor will also inquire you about your past and present relationships. The aim of the interview is to determine if you meet the requirements for ADHD as defined in the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association. To be diagnosed as having ADHD you must be able to prove that your symptoms cause impairment in at least two different settings within your life. This could be at home, at work or in your social life. Examples of impairment include difficulty keeping a job, being unable to maintain an appropriate relationship, or getting into financial difficulties due to reckless spending. Depending on your situation, the clinician will also likely carry out certain neuropsychological or psychological tests. These tests do not diagnose ADHD however they can provide valuable information about how ADHD affects your daily life. These tests can also be used to determine other comorbidities like anxiety and depression. Before or during the assessment, your GP will need to conduct a physical exam and take a medical history. This will help them identify any other medical conditions that could be causing symptoms, like seizures or thyroid disorders. They should be aware about any previous mental or medical diagnoses, as some can appear like ADHD. During the Evaluation An ADHD assessment is a discussion with an expert in mental health care, and can include questionnaires that the patient has to fill out. This could include an interview with family members or close friends. This can be helpful, since the person may not be aware of how frequently their symptoms cause problems for others. It also helps the evaluator identify any mental health conditions that need to be addressed by a treatment. Being diagnosed with ADHD is a daunting experience for adults, particularly when they're older and have many things to do. However, being diagnosed as an adult is not only possible, but it can greatly improve your life quality. A diagnosis helps you understand that the inattention or hyperactivity aren't due to personal failing or due to inefficiency, but there is an illness of the brain that is causing them. Your child or you will need to exhibit symptomatic behaviors in at minimum two environments (home school, home, and work) that cause significant impairment. Several of these symptoms should have been present since early childhood, and cannot be explained by a different disorder. A physical exam is typically recommended as a part of the evaluation process, as some medical conditions (such as seizure disorders and thyroid issues) can trigger symptoms that resemble ADHD. The physical exam allows the examiner to rule out other illnesses that could be responsible for the symptoms. The evaluator will review the patient's medical history and psychiatric symptoms. They will also discuss the patient's present circumstances and evaluate how the symptoms impact their daily functioning. It is usually helpful for an evaluator if they speak to people who are familiar with the patient, such as family members or coworkers. The evaluator uses the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth Edition, to make diagnosis. They will ask the patient to explain in detail the symptoms they experience and how they impact the person's ability to function. They will also consider whether there any mental health issues that need to be treated like depression or anxiety. During the Follow-Up After the ADHD evaluation is complete A treatment plan is developed. This usually includes medication and psychotherapy. It is important to keep in mind that it may take time to get on the right dosage of medication and to see the effects of therapy. So the most important thing you can do is to stay to it! It is essential to be open and honest with your psychiatrist during one-on-one sessions. This will ensure you receive the best care possible. Before meeting with the psychiatrist Before meeting with the psychiatrist, you will be asked to fill in the pre-screening questionnaires. You can find these on your portal's dashboard. Please fill them in before your appointment. This will cut down on the length of your appointment and will ensure that you meet with your evaluator as quickly as possible. At the initial in-person session the evaluator will review your medical history and perform an examination. This could include screening for vision or hearing, based on the individual. This is done to determine if there is a medical cause of the symptoms. The next major step is to conduct an in-depth interview, which may last anywhere from one to three hours. The patient is able to discuss their symptoms with the evaluator, in depth and explain how the issues affect their daily lives. The evaluator will ask about a wide variety of topics, including relationships with school, work sleep patterns, eating habits. The evaluator could also choose to interview people who are close to the patient, such as their spouses, parents or siblings teachers, coaches, or daycare providers. This provides information that is not obtainable from self-report questionnaires. It also helps the examiner to confirm the presence of ADHD symptoms and determine their severity and the extent to which they interfere with functioning. The evaluator will then conduct an examination that examines different aspects of the condition, such as inattention, restlessness, and impulse control. The examiner may also inquire about the symptoms in different situations and under different stressors. ADHD can manifest differently in different circumstances. After the Evaluation Your doctor will take notes as you describe your symptoms and answer questions. The evaluation can take up to three hours and could include multiple appointments or questionnaires. You will be asked to supply some medical information, including your family history of health issues and your current medications. This will help the evaluator determine if your symptoms could be caused by something else. You might have to fill out ADHD rating scales or behavioral questionnaires. The evaluator could also conduct an examination of your body and review your medical history. It is essential to rule out other medical conditions that could mimic ADHD symptoms, like thyroid disorders or seizure disorder. The evaluator might also talk to people who are familiar with you, such as teachers and coworkers. These interviews will allow the evaluator to understand the way your symptoms affect your school or work. It is essential to be open and honest about your symptoms and how they affect you and others. IamPsychiatry will then write a a detailed report for you to read. They will present their findings and suggest a possible diagnosis. If they conclude that you suffer from ADHD they will discuss ongoing treatment and support with you. If they don't find that you suffer from ADHD they will discuss other problems with psychiatry and suggest ways to help. The process of obtaining an ADHD evaluation can be difficult and scary, especially as an adult. It can be particularly difficult when you've been denied an assessment in the past, because many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what ADHD is like. It is never too late for an ADHD assessment. If you've been struggling for years an assessment can provide you the knowledge and confidence that you're in need of treatment. It can also help you to build stronger relationships with your loved ones. On our website you can learn more about the symptoms and signs associated with ADHD. You can also download a letter of support from ADHD UK that you can give to your GP.