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ADHD Assessment For Adults If you suspect that you or your child is suffering from ADHD the first step is to obtain an assessment. The doctor will ask questions regarding your health, developmental and family history. They might also ask your friends, your partner or your teachers to help them get an accurate picture of your symptoms. The evaluator will ask you to rate your symptoms on rating scales. Make sure you answer truthfully to get the most accurate results. Diagnosis Mental health professionals will look at the symptoms and their impact on the person's daily life to determine ADHD. They will ask about the person's life experiences in school, as well as those at home and at work. They can also use standardized questionnaires and scales to determine if ADHD symptoms are present. They may also conduct interviews with family members, friends, and others who know the individual well. A thorough assessment of ADHD can take anywhere between one and three hours. It is essential for the individual to come prepared with a list of symptoms and their impact on their lives. They should also bring their medical background as well as any other health issues. It is also advisable to consult your insurance company to determine if ADHD tests are covered. The person must be honest and forthcoming in completing the assessment. The clinician can ask for permission to speak with other people like the spouse or a close friend of the person, to get a complete understanding of their experience. They could also request permission to speak with the individual's parents or teachers to find out more about his or her childhood experiences. While adults may have ADHD, they cannot be diagnosed if they didn't have symptoms during childhood (technically before the age of 12). This is because most individuals don't outgrow ADHD. It is essential that the doctor knows how the symptoms affect the patient's life and which situations they can occur. The diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms be significant enough to affect the person's performance in at minimum two different areas of their lives, such as at home or in school. The symptoms must result in the impairment to persist regardless of the individual's efforts to overcome them. If you think that you suffer from ADHD, talk to your doctor about having an assessment. You can also reach out to people with ADHD and speak to them about your symptoms. They may have tips and advice for you that can help you manage your ADHD more effectively. Treatment A thorough ADHD assessment can range from one to three hours. It's important that the person receiving the assessment is able to fully answer any questions and provide details to the doctor. The examiner will inquire about the patient's developmental medical and psychiatric background. The evaluator may also interview other people, such as teachers, family members, and other health professionals. In the course of the evaluation, the evaluator will ask whether the patient has had any problems in school or at work. The therapist will also look at how ADHD symptoms affect the person's family life and relationships. The evaluator will suggest additional testing following the results of the initial assessment. This test is designed to detect other conditions, such as personality disorders and learning disorders that might have similar symptoms as ADHD. Additionally, the evaluator will screen for seizure disorders and thyroid disorders. Many people who are evaluated for ADHD also have depression or anxiety. In these instances the examiner will discuss psychotherapy options. It is common for this to include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to encourage self mediation and control strategies. CBT can be offered in a single session or in a group setting. Some experts believe that ADHD patients should receive psychotherapy alongside medication. However, the majority of studies show that ADHD is best treated with medication alone. A thorough ADHD evaluation is essential for determining the treatment plan that's suitable for each individual. If you are looking for an ADHD evaluation, contact your insurance company to find out if they have specialists in ADHD diagnosis. You may also request an appointment with your family doctor. Another option is to contact your local chapter of CHADD, or a mental health professional association to get the names of professionals in your region who specialize in ADHD. You can also ask support groups for referrals for support groups, like ones that are specifically designed for people with bipolar disorder and depression. Counseling A qualified mental health professional can talk to you at length about the issues you're experiencing, as well as the methods you've tried to address the issues. She will also inquire about your family and work life, as well as other issues like drug or alcohol abuse, and emotional traumas. She may even want to interview people close to you, such as your spouse or a important person, or teachers, coaches or an nanny that you have known from your childhood — to get their perspective on your past and present performance. This is particularly relevant for adults, as their memory of past behavior may be distorted by the presence or absence of ADHD symptoms. Based on the circumstances it is possible that you will require additional tests to rule out other causes for your issues. This could include cognitive tests to look for learning or intellectual limitations; medical tests like seizures or thyroid disorders that can trigger symptoms that resemble ADHD; and psychological counseling (psychotherapy) to assist you in dealing with emotional issues such as depression or feelings of failure that can exacerbate or conceal your ADHD symptoms. Psychotherapy is a valuable option for adults suffering from ADHD because it can provide you with new strategies to manage their effects in the workplace as well as at home. It can aid in improving your organization skills and teach you strategies to improve concentration, impulse control and executive function. It can also help reduce stress and improve your relationship with your partner or with others in your life. Many mobile and online services can assist you in finding the right therapist who specializes in adult ADHD. These services let you choose from a list licensed providers, such as psychiatric nurse and social workers who have been rated excellent, very good, or excellent by their patients. They can assist you in finding the best schedule for your lifestyle and your budget. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association contains clinical guidelines for diagnosing ADHD. In the course of the evaluation doctors will examine symptoms to those listed in the manual to determine if you suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis is made when symptoms occur in more than one environment, such at work or at school, and are persistent and debilitating and begin in childhood. Support Some adults find the idea of ADHD as a stigmatizing condition and dismiss symptoms as an “normal” aspect of life. They are reluctant to seek treatment because they are afraid to admit that they struggle to keep track of their tasks in a timely manner, or meeting deadlines. Often the first step toward treatment is a thorough examination by a health care professional or mental health professional. This process examines the person's mood, medical history and how symptoms impact the work environment, relationships with family and friends, and other aspects of everyday life. A thorough ADHD assessment could take a few hours. The most important part of the assessment is an in-depth interview. The examiner uses a set of standard questions to ensure that all relevant symptoms are taken care of and compared with the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The examiner will look over older school reports questionnaires, as well as brain imaging when they are available. The resulting report can help to identify the presence of comorbidity. If the patient also has depression or anxiety symptoms, they could be a part of ADHD. The report will also reveal other factors that might cause a person's problems such as medical conditions, learning disabilities and stress. Once assessment adhd adults has been given to ADHD, the next step is to find a therapist, or psychiatrist with experience who can treat this disorder. The patient should inquire with their insurance provider to determine if there are specialists who treat ADHD covered under their policy. If not, the patient should ask for referrals from other patients who have been successfully treated and ask for recommendations from local support groups. One great source of assistance is CHADD the national organization that has chapters across the U.S. Their website offers numerous details on ADHD and lists of professionals who have been trained in treating the disorder. There are also groups on social media sites such as Facebook for people with ADHD. Be careful to ensure that the group you join isn't a commercial venture.