If you suspect you have ADHD, you’ve likely done hours and hours of research online – going over the symptoms and noticing all the dots connecting, one by one. Some of those common ADHD symptoms can include: (but are not limited to)
Difficulty staying on task
Difficulty memorizing information
Obstacles at work (likely losing or quitting jobs more frequently than others)
Relationship struggles
Anxiety
Problems with paying bills on time and remembering important deadlines
Difficulty keeping focus
There are thousands of resources online to help you better understand the symptoms – but not nearly as many on what to do if you suspect you have ADHD. The process can be a little tricky to navigate – especially for someone with ADHD. We often struggle to complete things like scheduling appointments, paperwork, responding to emails, etc. – which can make the whole process highly stressful to an ADHD brain. Therefore, I’ve come up with some basic next steps for anyone who finds themselves searching for answers to their symptoms.
Step #1
The first step is to seek out a trained medical professional. Your family doctor is a reasonable place to start – as they are generally a trusted source familiar with the person seeking a diagnosis. However, most family physicians do not have the deep understanding or qualifications to conduct a full ADHD evaluation. Often times, clinicians who aim to specialize in ADHD diagnosis will equip their clinic with an objective tool to help in evaluation, such as QbTest or QbCheck.
While there is no singular test for ADHD, tools such as FDA Cleared Qbtech testing products can help clinicians better evaluate your symptoms and gauge response to treatment. If your clinician is not comfortable diagnosing ADHD, they should be able to refer you to an experienced ADHD professional such as Pediatricians, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, or qualified Nurse Practitioners. You also can find a clinic with Qbtech products here: https://bit.ly/38D9b6K.
The key here is making sure that you don’t get discouraged by the process. I know personally that just making a phone call to schedule an appointment can sometimes be daunting for someone with ADHD – but it’s important so you can get answers. You also may be able to email your clinician to arrange an appointment, if they offer the option.
Step #2
Once you have an appointment with a professional, there are several different ways that Clinicians can diagnose ADHD. As mentioned above, there is not any singular test that will tell you definitively if you have ADHD. Procedures and testing may vary from clinician to clinician, but certain protocols are considered essential for evaluation. You will likely be asked to complete an interview, a subjective DSM-5 symptom checklist/rating scales, and possibly other types of testing such as an objective test that measures your symptoms compared to a control group with your same age/sex.
I’ve found these objective tests to be incredibly helpful in visualizing how my symptoms display themselves, and eye-opening when compared to someone like me.
To read more about my test results, click here.
QbTest and QbCheck are FDA-cleared computerized tests that combine a test of attention ability with a movement analysis based on an infrared measurement system. QbTest is done in a clinician’s office, while QbCheck is available at-home. Both tests are used as an aid in the assessment and treatment evaluation of ADHD for people aged 6 to 60 years old. Objective tests are often used to assist clinicians in making a more accurate diagnosis (or to rule out ADHD as a potential diagnosis). It is also used to measure the effectiveness of your treatment plan by completing the test once again after you have begun your treatment.
I should also mention that the diagnosis process can vary slightly for children vs adults – as adults will generally be asked more about childhood experiences, and children are actually in the midst of those experiences. It may be helpful to bring along any of your childhood report cards or other “evidence” of struggles in school or work. These are just one piece of the puzzle that can help determine if your symptoms line up with ADHD or not.
Step #3
If you’re right in the middle of this process and would like to connect with other like-minded individuals, find an ADHD Community online. This is one of the most important steps in getting an ADHD diagnosis – as it can be incredibly helpful to recognize that others are going through the same journey. Find your ADHD Community HERE.
Also, if your provider currently doesn’t offer objective testing and you’re interested in how it can benefit you, click here to get resources and find a provider in your area.
