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How to Get an Accurate Assessment of ADHD Many adults undergoing an assessment for ADHD may falsely exaggerate or even feign symptoms Numerous studies Marshall and co Citation2016 Suhr et al Citation2008 show that around 27 of adults under taking a thorough ADHD assessment make an invalid symptom presentation Selfreport ADHD behavior rating scales are sufficient in sensitivity however they are not specific A more robust approach involves the clinical interview data with neuropsychological testing andor performancebased measures Diagnostic Criteria If youre concerned you might be suffering from ADHD is a good idea to seek out a professional assessment An accurate diagnosis can help you decide what treatment options are available and determine whether your symptoms meet criteria for a specific subtype of ADHD inattentive hyperactiveimpulsive or combined The first step to get a formal diagnosis is to set up an appointment with a qualified healthcare professional who can perform an assessment Your practitioner will review your medical history and inquire with you about the current issues The doctor will also inquire about your symptoms as a child and an adult Psychologists and psychiatrists use guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition DSM5 to determine whether a person has ADHD These guidelines for clinical practice are known as diagnostic criteria and they are similar to the list of symptoms The criteria demands that symptoms have been present for at least six months and result in significant impairments in at least two areas of daily functioning Children and adolescents should show symptoms before 12 years old Adults should have experienced the symptoms since childhood To be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms cannot be explained better by a different mental disorder including mood disorders and anxiety disorders dissociative disorders personality disorders In a confidential interview its important that people who are suspected of having ADHD discuss their concerns openly and honestly Depending on a persons situation it may be necessary to disclose personal information to the person evaluating them about risky lifestyle behavior Requesting opinions from those who know the person well can be beneficial This includes relatives former teachers or religious leaders as well as scouts coaches and employers The evaluator will use one of several standard questionnaires to assess your symptoms These rating scales which are often referred to as narrowband scales focus on assessing the core ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivityimpulsivity These scales are based on studies which show that these symptoms arent just normal behaviors Clinical Interview The clinical interview is a crucial part of the ADHD assessment battery It helps the therapist to understand the core symptoms and how they impact different areas of life It also assists the therapist to determine whether other disorders are present that are similar to or worsen ADHD symptoms such as depression and anxiety disorders The therapist will review the patients family developmental and medical background to determine how their ADHD symptoms have affected their lives both in the past and the present They will then determine the extent to which the symptoms impact their academic and social or occupational performance They will also check for comorbidities that could explain the patients symptoms since many adults with ADHD have a high incidence of comorbidity that includes anxiety and depression Friedrichs Igl Larsson and Larsson Citation 2012 Numerous studies have demonstrated that behavioral rating scales on their own do not provide enough information to accurately determine the presence of ADHD However they have a high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing legitimate symptom presentations from those that are not The accuracy of diagnosis can be significantly improved when you add cognitive tests to the behavioral ADHD rating scale battery It is important that the therapist interviews the patient in an open and honest manner Adults with ADHD may feel ashamed or embarrassed by their condition and therefore avoid discussing their condition during a clinical interview This can severely affect the quality of the assessment and result in an underestimation or falsenegative psych assessment for adhd should ask about the persons experiences in different environments like home school and work They should also ask the individual about their interpersonal relationships such as their relationship with their spouse or partner The therapist should talk to the patient and their loved ones to discuss the effect that the symptoms of the person have on their lives If this is not possible the therapist must use a checklist to document the individuals symptom experiences Neuropsychological Tests A medical professional who performs an assessment of neuropsychological functioning may test your thinking and memory skills as well as other aspects of cognitive functioning These tests can be conducted on a computer or with pencil and paper at the doctors They may include tests on memory such as repeating the numbers or words They also test your ability to comprehend written words and draw pictures Other tests assess how quickly you can process information and how well you can identify people or objects and how fast you can tell whether two items are the same visuospatial skills The psychologist will review your medical history to see whether any injury or illness may be causing the issues youre having Theyll also ask you about your mood mental health and any anxiety or depression you may have experienced They may interview relatives coworkers or even your friends to find out more about your behavior A neuropsychologist may give you several different tests and compare your results with the responses of others who have taken the identical tests This is referred to as normative comparative and is a crucial aspect of the examination It allows your doctor to determine if your performance is better or worse than other people who have taken the same test If your health care professional believes you are suffering from a medical issue then the results of the neuropsychological tests can help them determine how to treat it They can use them to discern between normal cognitive changes that are a result of aging and the actual decline in cognitive capacity that could be the result of an illness or disease such as Parkinsons disease or Alzheimers The results can be used to guide future treatments for example speech or occupational therapy They can help your provider figure out what skills youre weak in and what strengths can help you overcome them and allow them to focus on developing the skills you need They can be used to assess how well you respond to a new noninvasive brain stimulation method or pharmacological treatment such as deep brain stimulation or transcranial magnet stimulation Family History The symptoms of ADHD can be difficult for the sufferer to manage They can cause tension in relationships and create problems at work or school The diagnosis of ADHD can make it easier to seek assistance The process of diagnosis may take time however it is worth it A qualified health care professional or physician can assess if someone has the disorder based on data from a variety of sources These include the symptom list standardized behaviour rating scales and a thorough background of the persons past and current functioning They can also be gathered from relatives and other people who know the individual well You should seek out a doctor with experience in evaluating and treating adult ADHD You can find a specialist at your local mental health center or at your school You can also request an appointment from someone you trust The health history of the family is important in diagnosing ADHD The disorder tends to run through families and its common for children of parents suffering from the disorder to be diagnosed too Your health care provider will be interested in knowing if any of your family members suffer from the disorder or have had treatment for it A health care professional may ask about your familys diet lifestyle and genetic background Theyll also want to know whether anyone has experienced serious illness This can help them rule out other illnesses like depression or anxiety The standard to determine ADHD is that the symptoms result in significant impairments in two areas of a persons existence Impairment can be the loss of employment because of inattention or forgetfulness or difficulty completing homework or paying bills or difficulties in relationships It could also be a problem staying on task excessive behavior or spending time at work Certain people suffering from ADHD are able to manage their symptoms with the combination of medication diet therapy and exercise However without treatment the symptoms may continue to interfere with a persons daily functions and cause problems in their personal and family lives The good news is that ADHD treatment can be extremely effective for both children and adults