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ADHD Assessment For Adults – What to Expect You can get an appointment from your primary care physician or an adult support group with ADHD to an experienced health professional who is qualified to perform these assessments. You can also search the directory online of your health insurance plan to find specialists. A typical assessment lasts between one and three hours. It begins with a thorough interview about your family, work and personal life. What to Expect It is crucial to visit an expert if you suspect you or someone in your family has ADHD. Your GP might ask about your symptoms and inquire about your family history, but they are not able to diagnose ADHD. They will refer you to a mental specialist typically a psychologist to determine the severity of your ADHD. The initial assessment could take several hours. During the interview the doctor will ask you a series standard questions regarding your behavior in the present and in the past. They will also ask about your relationships as well as any issues you've had in the past. The interview will determine whether you meet the ADHD criteria as defined in the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association. To be able to be diagnosed as having ADHD, you will have be able to prove that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two different settings in your daily life. This could be at home, at work or in your social life. A few examples of impairment are being unable to maintain working or maintaining a healthy relationship or having financial issues because of impulsive purchases. Based on the specific situation the doctor could also conduct some tests that are neuropsychological or psychological. These tests are not able to diagnose ADHD but they can provide valuable information on how ADHD affects your daily life. They can also help determine if you have any other comorbidities, such as depression or anxiety. Before or during the assessment your doctor will need to perform a physical exam and collect your medical history. This will help them determine if there are any other medical issues that could be the cause of your symptoms, for example, seizures or thyroid disorders. They'll need to be aware about any prior medical or mental diagnoses, as some can appear like ADHD. During the Evaluation An ADHD assessment is a discussion with a mental health professional, and can include questionnaires for the patient to complete. It could also include an interview with an important family member or other. This is beneficial because the person may not be aware that their issues are causing problems for others. It can also be used to determine any co-occurring mental health issues that require treatment. Adults may be frightened to be diagnosed with ADHD particularly if they are older and have a lot of responsibilities. A diagnosis can help improve your life dramatically. A diagnosis can help you realize that inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are not due to a lack effort or personal shortcomings or an illness of the brain. You or your child will have to exhibit symptoms in at least two different environments (home school, at home, and at work) that cause significant impairment. Several of these symptoms should have been present since childhood, and can't be explained by a different disorder. A physical exam is typically suggested as part of the examination, since certain medical ailments (such as seizures and thyroid issues) can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD. A physical exam is also a way for the evaluator to rule out these conditions as causes of the symptoms. The evaluator will look over the patient's medical and psychiatric history, as well as the symptoms they're experiencing. They will also discuss the patient's current circumstances and evaluate the impact of the symptoms on their daily functioning. It can be helpful for an evaluator if they speak to people who are familiar with the patient, like family members or colleagues. speaking of will use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth Edition, to make an assessment. They will ask the patient to describe their symptoms in detail and how they impact their ability to function. They will also look at whether there are any mental health conditions that need to be treated like depression or anxiety. During the Follow-Up After the ADHD evaluation is complete, a treatment program is developed. Most often, this will comprise both medication and psychotherapy. It can take time to find the right dosage of medication or to see the results of therapy. Thus the most important thing you can do is to stay with it! It is important to be open and honest with your psychiatrist during the one-on-one sessions. This will help ensure that you receive the highest quality care possible. You will be asked to fill out an array of pre-screening questions prior to meeting with the psychiatrist. They are available on your portal dashboard. Please fill them out prior to your appointment. This will speed up the duration of your appointment, and ensure that you can meet your evaluator as soon as you can. In the initial in-person consultation the evaluator will go over your medical history and perform an examination. This may include a 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 stage is an in-depth assessment, which may take anywhere from one to three hours. The patient can discuss their symptoms with the evaluator in depth and explain how the issues affect their daily lives. The evaluator may ask about a variety of topics such as relationships, work and school, sleep patterns and eating habits. The evaluator could also choose to interview those who are close to the patient, like their spouses, parents, siblings, teachers, coaches and daycare providers. This can provide information that cannot be gathered from self-report questionnaires and helps the evaluator confirm the presence of ADHD symptoms, as well as determine their severity and extent of their impact on function. The evaluator then conducts an examination that will look at several areas related to the disorder, such as restlessness, inattention, and impulse control. The evaluator can also inquire about the symptoms in various situations and under various stressors. ADHD can manifest differently in different situations. After the Evaluation Your specialist will take notes when you describe your symptoms and respond to questions. The evaluation usually takes at least one to three hours, and could involve multiple visits or questionnaires. You may be asked to provide certain medical information, such as your family history of health issues and the current medications you are taking. This will help the evaluator determine if your symptoms are caused by something else. You might have to complete ADHD rating scales or behavioral questionnaires. The evaluator can also conduct physical examinations and review your medical history. It is essential to rule out other medical conditions that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid disorders. The evaluation will also speak to people who know you well, including teachers and colleagues. These interviews will assist the evaluator in understanding the way your symptoms affect your work or school. It is important to be open and honest about your symptoms, and how they affect you and others. After the evaluator has collected all of this information after which they will create a report for you. They will discuss their findings and outline a potential diagnosis. If they conclude that you have ADHD they will discuss ongoing treatment and support with you. If they don't discover that you have ADHD they will talk to your about any other psychiatric issues and recommend ways to help. The process of getting an ADHD assessment can be a bit difficult and scary, especially as an adult. It can be particularly difficult to get an assessment in the past, because many medical professionals have preconceived ideas about what ADHD appears to be. But, it's never too late to get an ADHD assessment. If you've been struggling for a long time, a diagnosis can give you the knowledge and confidence you need to seek treatment. It can also help you strengthen your relationships with your loved ones. You can find more information about the symptoms and signs of ADHD on our website and download a support letter from ADHD UK to present to your GP.