ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making a diagnosis is the first step in understanding and managing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They may want to see old report cards and speak with 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at home, school and at work. Speak to your GP when you or your child displays these symptoms. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and completing physical examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could comprise the description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your family members, as well as physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your family life, at home, at work, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely to 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could affect your professional and personal lives. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a diagnosis based on symptoms (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 the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also discuss your child's growth as well as medical history and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, ignoring things, and interrupting others.
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 that affect your child's behavior and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet all of 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders or head injuries that could mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also request details about the issue from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. 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 start by contacting your insurance company 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 area. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for impulsivity and attention issues. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial part of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor might also ask anyone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major situations, including work and home. To be eligible for ADHD to be recognized, the impairment must have been present at minimum six months.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if 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 is based on at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to small details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on activities or tasks, trouble listening when talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
The following is a list of preventatives.
People with inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with their peers, or have difficulty to keep an occupation. These individuals also need to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD may still be used from time to time however it is not the most popular. The new definition takes into account the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are differences in how 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health care professional. This may include an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an understanding of the individual and normative rating scales, both by family members and teachers. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition, such as depression or anxiety. In webpage of these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also stay in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.
Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular checks with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.