ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding a diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. They might want to look at old reports and talk 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 also interfere with relationships and learning at school, home and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records, and performing physical examination. You may also discuss the background of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could comprise the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, along with physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. These include looking for an inattention pattern, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your life at home, work and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms are more 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific You may be prescribed medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to minimize the risk of the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of symptoms which may be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in the home, school and social environments. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be examined. They will then compare your child's behavior against that of other children their age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring 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 more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause problems and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child doesn't 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your doctor will examine your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and perform 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 heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, and also group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral 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 insurance provider or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Some doctors also use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most crucial part of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor might also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The doctor will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that could take an hour or more. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the results of the exam with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect a person's life. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major settings, such as home and work. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present for at least six month.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet 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 requires at least three of the five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD, and they can be easily missed. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to keep a job. They also have to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used infrequently however, the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name recognizes that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are differences in the manner in which the disorder is exhibited by girls and boys. Girls and children assigned female at birth (AFAB) click here tend to show more inattentive symptoms, which are less noticeable, than the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. This makes them more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a medical professional. This may include an assessment of medical history as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults with an understanding of the individual as well as normative ratings scales completed both by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to an extent that impacts the functioning.
A thorough examination is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who have been diagnosed with the disorder should to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD with inattentiveness may benefit from other treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular checks with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.