ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They might want to look at old report cards and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about childhood behavior.
Signs and symptoms
Children and adults who have symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have trouble with paying close attention, listening attentively and following directions--things that come naturally to others. These symptoms can cause issues with learning and relationships at school, at home and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, talk to a GP. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records, and performing physical examination. You can also mention the background of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This includes looking for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months, and evaluating whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at work, home and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely to manifest differently as they age. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both.
If your adult symptoms are in line with the criteria for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, as well as improving focus and concentration. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A psychiatric evaluation can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD, must meet specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social settings. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be reviewed. They will then compare your child's behavior to that of other children of similar age. They can use standard rating scales to measure the frequency of specific behaviors, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things and interrupting other children.
There are three presentations of ADHD - predominately inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined. To be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must meet six of the nine symptoms that fall under either the inattentive or the hyperactive-impulsive categories. They must be present in at least two environments, make your child perform poorly and last for at least at least six months.
If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional may diagnose them with unspecified ADHD. They might also decide that your child does not have a hyperactive-impulsive presentation of the condition and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis.
A thorough psychiatric assessment can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to identify any medical issues that could check here be a cause of ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They might also request an extensive history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. They will take into consideration whether there is a family history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, you need to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurer or asking your local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to determine problems with attention and impulse control. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an evaluation.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also ask for information from someone who knows the patient very well for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that can take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the examination with the patient.
It is extremely important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that symptoms must be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present for at least six months.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Assocation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to small specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on activities or tasks or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or seeming distracted.
Prevention
People who have inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD, and they can be easily missed. However, their issues can have consequences: they may not perform well at school, get into trouble with peers or have difficulty to keep an occupation. They need to be treated, too.
The term ADD is still used occasionally, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer definition recognizes that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
There are differences between the way that the disorder is exhibited by girls and boys. Girls and children assigned female at birth (AFAB) tend to show more inattentive symptoms, which are less noticeable, than the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. This increases the likelihood that they will not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones and by educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
A thorough examination is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also keep in touch with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their healthcare providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.