ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an assessment is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your past. They might request old reports and speak to your family members, teachers or friends to learn about your childhood behaviors.
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. The symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and home. Speak to your GP if you or your child exhibits these symptoms. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.
A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and then performing physical exam. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include an explanation of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
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. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms affect your life, at home at work, at home, and at school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms are more likely to present differently as they grow older. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both.
If diagnosis of adhd in adults meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific, you may be prescribed medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize adverse effects. Antidepressants are sometimes employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must follow certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior at home, school and social settings. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be examined. They will then assess your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They may use standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems, such as 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 occur in more than one setting, affect your child's functioning and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six (6) months.
If your child does not meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional may diagnose them with 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 complete psychiatric examination can include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based and neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request an extensive history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might 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 specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurance company or your local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for attention and impulsivity problems. Some doctors also use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an examination is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also request details from someone who knows the patient well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete a report and discuss the results of the assessment with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be recognized the condition must have been present for at minimum six months.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention specifics, making erroneous mistakes and having difficulty focusing on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD, and they can be easily missed. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might underperform at school, clash with peers or have difficulty to keep their job. These people must be treated too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD can be occasionally used but it's not the most common. The newer definition is based on the fact that children may be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder manifests between boys and girls. 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.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health professional. This includes an examination of the medical history, a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers, parents or other adults who know the person as well as standard scales of rating completed by loved ones and teachers. These are helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to an extent that affects functioning.
A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working in the way they should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.