Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can impact all aspects of you or your teenager’s life. This includes medical, social, and lifestyle factors. Getting tested early – and getting ADHD symptoms under control – can help prevent the issue from interfering in your life.
Studies have shown that being tested, diagnosed, and treated for ADHD can greatly improve the quality of life for adults and teens with ADHD. Let’s talk about why it is so important for someone who is exhibiting any behaviors of ADHD to get professionally tested, and where you can go in Denver and Lakewood to have an evaluation and treatment for mental health issues of any kind.
What ADHD Is and What It Isn’t
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD is one of the most common neurodivergent conditions that first appear in childhood. There is no cure for ADHD, but the condition can be successfully managed with a combination of medication and therapy.
Contrary to the name of the disorder, teens and adults who have ADHD are not deficient in attentiveness. Rather, they are able to focus their attention quite well – so well, in fact, that they are known for their ability to hyperfocus on topics that are of interest to them – often to the point that they cannot focus on anything else in the moment.
Signs and symptoms of ADHD can differ significantly between genders and among people of different ages. Compounding the challenge of knowing when to seek ADHD testing is that many people with ADHD develop coping skills that can mask the signs of ADHD. However, if the person’s behaviors are problematic for others (friends, family), then treatment is likely warranted.
Benefits of ADHD Testing
You might be surprised to hear that ADHD testing very often brings relief – yes, relief! – because only in the light of an ADHD diagnosis do certain behaviors and actions finally make sense.
The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner proper treatment can begin. This often involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The earlier treatment is begun, the sooner problematic signs and symptoms can be controlled – and the easier it will be for the person with ADHD to effectively carry out their daily activities.
Left untreated, ADHD is associated with an increased risk of certain types of problems, such as substance abuse, gambling, difficulty at school or work, and relationship issues.
What to Expect with ADHD Testing
First of all, it is important to know there is no single test that can alone be used to diagnose ADHD. Instead, ADHD testing involves a variety of evaluations and ruling out other possible issues.
Initial evaluations which are usually performed to rule out other potential causes of a person’s symptoms involve a physical exam, hearing test, and vision test. If those exams come back fine, you or your teenager will see an ADHD healthcare specialist who will thoroughly review your personal and family medical history – again, to rule out other potential causes of symptoms, or to identify patterns.
Your healthcare provider will then use one of the many ADHD screenings available to rate your signs and symptoms. The Connors Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales (CBRS) includes three questionnaires to help your ADHD healthcare provider assess symptoms in a variety of settings. The questionnaires can also help to identify other disorders that often occur alongside ADHD, such as learning disabilities, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, and depression.
If you or your teenager is then diagnosed with ADHD following ADHD testing, it is likely to fall into one of these three categories: predominantly inattentive ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, or a combination of the two.
ADHD Testing in Denver and Lakewood, CO
At Denver Wellness Associates, we use the Connors rating scales to screen for ADHD. It not only identifies the person’s individual signs and symptoms of ADHD, but it can also reveal the extent of disruption each symptom is causing in a person’s life.
For more information, contact Denver Wellness Associates – with offices in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado – by calling or texting us today at (720) 724-3668, or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you take control of your life!