ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding a diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct an interview structured to review your past. They may ask for old report cards and talk to teachers, relatives or 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 also interfere with learning and relationships at home, school and work. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult a GP. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical documents and your health history, and performing physical examination. You can also mention the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers, along with a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This includes looking for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms are affecting your daily routine at work, home and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD however, 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. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal lives. A psychiatric assessment is performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person with a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must follow certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be examined. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with those of children who are their age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about things, or interrupting other people.
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 a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause disruption and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child is not able to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider will assign them an 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 evaluation could include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that can mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also request a detailed history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise 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 specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most crucial component of an assessment.
During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also request anyone who is familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent or sibling, for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a very thorough process that could take an hour or more. The clinician will then complete an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms interfere with the life of a person. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major environments, like work and home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview, a clinician will go over the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks and difficulty listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or seeming distracted.
The following is a list of preventions.
People who have inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and can be easily ignored. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might click here not do well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to keep a job. These people also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used frequently however, the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name takes into account that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder presents itself between 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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers, parents or other adults who know the patient well and also standard ratings scales that are used by loved ones and teachers. These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and parent training, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition as well. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.