How to Get Assessed For ADHD As an Adult
A person may be diagnosed with ADHD when they experience symptoms that last for a long period of time and are severe enough to affect their daily functioning. The specialist will consider the impact on family and friends as well.
The doctor who will be evaluating you might ask for documents from your childhood to assist them in understanding what you've been going through. They may also request questionnaires from your relatives and close friends.
1. Schedule an appointment with your GP
Making an appointment with your GP is the first step to getting diagnosed with ADHD. I Am Psychiatry will be competent to refer you to a health care specialist who is specialized in ADHD assessments for adults.
During the interview, your health care professional will ask you questions about your health issues and how they impact your daily routine. They will also inquire about your family history and personal background. It is important to be honest, especially when you are having major problems at home or at work due to your symptoms. Your health care provider might also ask you to provide questionnaires for your spouse or other family members to gain understanding of your symptoms.
In addition to the symptom evaluation your doctor will probably perform physical and psychological tests. These tests will aid your health care provider rule out other conditions which can cause similar symptoms like anxiety or depression. You may also be asked to take a tests that measure your academic performance.
People with ADHD can have a hard recalling specifics from their childhood, which is why it is crucial to bring your report cards or other school records to the assessment. They may also require you to fill out a retrospective ADHD profile in which they speak with someone who is familiar with you about your childhood behavior and the effects it had on your adult life. This isn't to doubt your honesty, but to provide more context for your issues.
2. Ask your GP for the referral to an expert
A specialist in ADHD may be a psychologist, therapist or psychiatrist. They can help you learn how to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. A doctor can prescribe medication should you require it.
Be honest when you speak with a doctor about your issues and their impact on your life. They may also want to speak with your family members or your friends. They can offer a different perspective on your issues and may see things you didn't think of.
You will be asked to write about your childhood. The specialist might ask you to bring report cards from your school days as well as other records pertinent to your case. Some specialists may want to speak with parents, teachers or other people who were familiar with you during your youth and can provide information about your childhood behaviour.
Adults who are not treated for ADHD are more likely to suffer from complications like anxiety and depression. Untreated ADHD can lead to chronic stress and frustration, which can worsen the symptoms. Your mental health professional may refer you to an experienced counselor or therapist who specializes in adult ADHD. You could also find an ADHD support group in your area and ask members there for recommendations. You can also call your local hospital at a university or an accredited graduate school in psychology for recommendations.
3. Ask your GP for the referral to psychiatrist
If you have a medical insurance plan, ask your family doctor to refer you to a medical healthcare professional who conducts ADHD evaluations for adults. You can also contact a local university with a graduate program in clinical psychology to ask for recommendations. You may have to pay a fee, but the evaluation is generally closely monitored by a qualified clinician.
A psychiatrist is a medical specialist who treats brain disorders. They are able to prescribe medication for ADHD and other disorders. They can assist you manage your symptoms with counselling and other life skills. They can also assist in finding a support system. They are expensive however they have a high level of expertise in diagnosing and treating ADHD.
You can also see a nurse practitioner who is a different kind of healthcare professional that can help you with mental health issues. They are also referred to as psychiatric nurses and can diagnose and treat ADHD. They also prescribe medications but they aren't able to provide counselling.
You can also consult a neurologist. A neurologist is a specialist doctor who works in the brain and central nerve system. They can detect comorbidity and determine if other conditions that cause the symptoms of ADHD, such as depression or anxiety disorder. They can also arrange MRI tests if necessary.
4. Have your GP to refer you to psychologist
You can request your GP for the referral to a psychologist, a psychiatrist or other mental health professionals who specialise in adult ADHD. It is best to locate an expert who has worked with adult ADHD in your region. This could take a while. You can ask friends and family for recommendations of specialists in your area. You can also search the internet for specialists in adult ADHD. You can also reach out to a mental health centre or a wellness centre that offers ADHD evaluations, and they will likely have a list of specialists to select from.
The first step to getting diagnosed with ADHD is to conduct a thorough interview. This will look into your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. The psychologist or psychiatrist employs the same diagnostic criteria to determine whether you suffer from ADHD. If they suspect that you have it, they will refer you to a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist or psychiatrist who will prescribe medication.
Many universities offer clinical psychology doctoral programs, and some have clinics that provide free or low-cost ADHD evaluations for their graduate students. You will be evaluated by a graduate student who is closely monitored by an expert. This ensures that you receive the most thorough evaluation possible. This is a great choice if you don't want to wait long for a diagnosis.
5. Ask your GP to refer you to a cognitive behavioural therapy
A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is necessary to determine ADHD. This includes a physical examination and an interview to determine the impact of the symptoms on the person's daily activities. It's important to determine if the person has other mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that have some of the same symptoms with ADHD.
During the interview, a specialist will ask about the person's background with attention issues and other mental health issues. The specialist will look at the person's work, school, and family history to determine how they function. It is essential that the person being evaluated be honest about their symptoms. They should not hide their struggles because of shame or embarrassment.
To get a diagnosis of ADHD, adults or children must have at least five established ADHD behaviors in the categories of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity for six months or longer. The specialist will also examine whether the symptoms cause disruption to the person's life and they result in impairment in their functioning. The specialist will also discuss whether or not the individual is suffering from any other disorder such as depression, anxiety, or a learning disability.
If you're having difficulty receiving an assessment through the NHS, ask your GP to refer you to a cognitive behavioural specialist who specializes in adult ADHD. Many people who have tried accessing the NHS for an assessment report lengthy waiting times, therefore a private option may be worth considering.
6. Ask your GP to refer you to a specialist in adult ADHD
Talk to your doctor about your concerns and goals. If you find that your ADHD is affecting your relationships with your friends and colleagues, you might be interested in classes or therapy that focus on communication skills. Similarly, if you forget appointments or often miss deadlines, it's crucial to be honest with your doctor about these issues and explain how they have impacted your life and work.
Most likely, you'll choose a specialist who is a psychiatrist, neurologist or psychologist who is specialized in ADHD in adults. You may be referred cognitive-behavioural therapy.
In addition to conducting a structured interview, the therapist will also ask you to provide examples of your symptoms and how they have affected your life. They will also inquire about your life in the past, particularly your childhood. This is because, in order to be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have displayed symptoms of the disorder in the early years of your life (technically before the age of 12). This part of the evaluation is difficult for many adults suffering from ADHD who don't remember or deny their symptoms as children.
Bring any documents or other information from your workplace or school. This will assist the evaluator determine the most accurate diagnosis. They can also speak with your supervisors, coworkers or teachers to gain a more complete picture of your behavior. In addition, they'll look over your medical history to determine if there are any underlying conditions that could be contributing to your ADHD.