How to Get an Assessment of ADHD
The NHS provides a "Right to Request Scheme' which means you can request your GP to send you to an ADHD assessment. This is usually faster than waiting for a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist to become available.
These tests can be used to rule out the diagnosis of ADHD However, they also have issues with precision and sensitivity.
Symptoms
It can be difficult to identify the signs of ADHD. ADHD symptoms can have long-lasting effects on a person's ability function at home and at work. A doctor who conducts a psychotherapy assessment will look at the symptoms of a person and how they impact their daily functioning. They will also take into account other factors, such as family history, education and the environment.
There are three general types of ADHD and a third type is atypical, the most important criteria for an ADHD diagnosis is that a person experiences significant problems in two or more areas of their life, including home and school. They also must have a combination of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and the symptoms must be present for at least six months. A healthcare professional will also employ their clinical expertise to diagnose the type of ADHD.
Attention-deficit ADHD manifests as difficulty paying attention and remaining focused. People suffering from this type of ADHD often make mistakes in school and at work often forget things, struggle to complete tasks in time and are easily distracted by non-essential thoughts or stimuli. They have difficulty staying focused when reading or talking. Children may often leave their seats in situations where remaining seated is necessary and are unable to sit still without squirming or fidgeting.
Symptoms of impulsive ADHD include rapid and dramatic responses to external stimuli. People with this disorder tend to blurt out their answers before they have finished the question, have difficulty waiting for their turn in an interaction, and are often interrupt others. Children often struggle to control themselves and are unable keep from touching things they shouldn't. Adults and older adolescents are often in a state of confusion and can be easily affected.
Adults can take advantage of a variety of self-assessment tests in order to determine if they suffer from ADHD. These include the Women's ADHD Self-Assessment Symptom Inventory and the Adult ADHD Symptom Scale. The Women's ADHD Self-Assessment Tool was created by two clinicians who specialize in treating women suffering from ADHD and takes into consideration some of the unique challenges females with ADHD have to face. The Adult ADHD symptoms Scale is designed to assess the typical impulsive and inattentive behaviors that are typical of ADHD.
Family History
Some experts believe that ADHD occurs in families. The doctor will ask about your family history. She may ask you whether there are any other family members who suffer from ADHD or if your siblings do. She might be interested in knowing if your parents or grandparents had it as children.
Some doctors employ self-assessment instruments or checklists to determine the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, only a specialist can diagnose the disorder. Specialists in this field are typically psychologists or psychiatrists, but they could also be nurses, social workers or dieticians, too. These professionals may also interview you, as well as someone who knows you well (spouses, parents, siblings teachers, coaches, or the nannies for children) in addition to using these tools. They can provide insight that's difficult to gain from self-assessments or questionnaires.
The doctor will look at your behavior in the past and determine whether you meet the criteria to be diagnosed with ADHD or ADD. In children, this means that you must have six or more symptoms in one of the two main categories -- inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity -- over the past six months. For adults the threshold is five or more symptoms in the past six months. These symptoms must significantly interfere with school, work as well as home and social interactions. The symptoms must manifest before the age of 12 and continue for at minimum six months to be considered ADD/ADHD.
Your doctor may suggest an examination of your body, including an eye and hearing screening, to rule medical causes of your symptoms. She will also ask about your family history, life style and any previous or current health issues. You might be asked to complete a personality test and some psychological tests. These tests examine your memory, ability to make decisions, and thinking processes to rule out other disorders like depression or anxiety. Neuropsychological tests, like test the way your brain processes information. This will help her determine the cause of the symptoms and suggest the most effective treatment.
Self-Assessment Tool
There are many ratings scales and questionnaires that can be used to evaluate ADHD symptoms. These instruments are quick and simple and can provide a professional with a wealth information when evaluating ADHD.
These ratings can either be completed by the person who is doing them or their parents, teachers or another observer such as a therapist, or clinician. They can aid the expert to determine which ADHD symptoms are present, where they manifest (home, school, work) and for what period of time. They can also be used to determine co-occurring disorders that may be contributing to the symptoms of ADHD.
The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, v1.1, is one of the most widely used and highly regarded rating scales to diagnose adult ADHD. It is a symptom-based screening tool, and the assessment of ADHD symptoms includes questions assessing inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and comorbidity. It is used to screen or monitor over time, and is usually included in national and international ADHD Guidelines.
Even the best rating tools have their limitations. They are affected by bias and errors. There are many reasons to screen positively even if they do not have ADHD. First, it is crucial to keep in mind that ADHD is a continuum and isn't just a checklist of symptoms. To be considered to have ADHD, the symptoms must cause significant impairment in two or more life domains.
Secondly, it is crucial to realize that rating scales are not necessarily sensitive or specific enough. Sensitivity refers to the degree to which an instrument, such as the rating scale, distinguishes between people who have and don't suffer from a disorder. Specificity however is how precise a measure is at correctly identifying people who do have a disorder.
It is crucial that the results of these types of rating scales are interpreted by a professional, and this can only be done through an evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or an therapist who is specialized in ADHD. They will inquire about the symptoms of the patient, perform neuropsychological tests and employ other methods like clinical interviews or observational methods to determine the precise diagnosis of ADHD.
Tests
A diagnosis of ADHD can be a relief for the person suffering from it, or their parents. It can be a challenge as well, because the condition is often linked to other problems in life like inability to perform at school or at work, strained relationships, and strained finances. The disorder can impact the sleeping quality and lead to depression, anxiety, and weight increase.
In addition to taking a comprehensive medical history, doctors may use neuropsychological testing to assess the effects of symptoms on a person's performance. This type of assessment utilizes computers to test the performance of an individual in different situations. It can provide more reliable data than subjective assessments.
Standardized rating scales are also used to evaluate the symptoms and behavior of a person. These include the Conners Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire and the CBCL. These rating scales provide a set of questions to determine the frequency an individual is unable to sit still or gets easily distracted. The scales also inquire about the propensity of a person to interrupt others, make mistakes or forget things. The CBCL also asks questions about issues at home and at work.
These questionnaires are standardized and can be administered by anyone who is familiar with the patient. They can be completed in person, over the phone, or even online. These kinds of scales are highly sensitive and specificity, but they cannot always accurately predict the presence or absence of a disorder with 100 100% accuracy.
The DSM-5 criteria for ADHD define the disorder as a combination of attentional and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms that occur "often" and "interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, academic or occupational functioning. "15
To be eligible for an ADHD diagnosis, a person must display a symptomatic behavior in a variety of settings, such as at home, at school or on the job. The symptoms must be severe, and they are not caused by other disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Prepare for an ADHD screening by preparing a list with your symptoms or the symptoms of your child. Highly recommended Internet page should be prepared to respond to questions about their medical history, and any pertinent family histories.