ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting a diagnosis is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They may want to see old report cards and talk to parents, relatives or even friends about your childhood habits.
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. The symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and at home. Speak to your GP if you or your child displays these signs. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and completing an examination. You can also discuss the history of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers as well as physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms affect your life at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD however their symptoms will likely present 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 could be prescribed medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, improving concentration and focus. They may be given as extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A psychiatric assessment is conducted by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet 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 at home, school and social settings. They will also go over your child's growth medical history and family history. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children of similar age. They may use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of certain 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 a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider will assign them 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 evaluation may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also ask for details about the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling, as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to locate an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who knows the patient very well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can last up to an hour. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as work and home. The impairment must be present for at least six months to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). IamPsychiatry of ADHD must be backed by at least three of the five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to small details and making careless mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing distracted.
The following is a list with preventions.
People who have inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and can be easily overlooked. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find an occupation. These people also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used occasionally 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 version is based on the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are variations in the way that the disorder manifests 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 makes it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A careful evaluation is also crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also remain contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning as they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education, can be very beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctors regularly, as certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.