ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an assessment is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They might request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or friends to get information about your childhood behavior.
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 relationships and learning at school, at home and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, consult an GP. 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 will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical documents and your health history, and conducting an exam. You can also discuss the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. These include looking for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life at work, home and school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however, the symptoms of ADHD will likely manifest differently as they get older. 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 can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed in extended-release forms to lessen the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of symptoms which may be affecting both your professional and personal lives. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who is diagnosed with a symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must adhere to specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in 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 behavior with those of other children of similar age. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the 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 two or more settings that affect your child's behavior and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional 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 thorough psychiatric assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They might also request details about the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and family members. They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling, as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting treatment is to find an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start 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 a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to determine issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an assessment.
During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also request someone who is very familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent or sibling for information. 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 a report and discuss the results of the exam with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD depends on how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major settings, such as home and work. For ADHD to be recognized the condition must have been present at least six months.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the person meets the diagnostic criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
The following is a list of preventions.
People with inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. However, their problems can have consequences: they may underperform at school, clash with classmates or struggle to find their job. These individuals need to be treated, too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD may still be occasionally used however more info it is not the most commonly used. The newer version takes into account that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are differences in the way the disorder is manifested 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 makes it more likely that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes a medical history review along with a medical interview and a physical exam. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have a good understanding of the person, as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and by educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases, treating these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medication is working exactly as they should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very efficient for both adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular check-ups with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.