ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making a diagnosis is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They may ask for old reports and speak to family members, teachers or classmates about childhood behaviors.
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 at work. Speak to your GP in the event that you or your child is showing these symptoms. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and completing physical examination. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, as well as a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for six months or longer and assess whether the symptoms affect your life, at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however their symptoms will likely present 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 requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They are available in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A psychiatric assessment is performed by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must follow certain guidelines set forth 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, in school and in social settings. They will also discuss your child's developmental as well as medical and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior with the behavior of other children their age. They could use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavioral problems like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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 at least two different settings, cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child doesn't 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 thorough psychiatric assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They might also request a detailed history of the problem from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They'll also look into whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling, and also group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step to get treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking the local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulse control problems. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most crucial component of an evaluation.
During the interview, the therapist will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician will also ask for 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 adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a thorough process that could be a long time. The doctor will write a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major situations, including work and home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria laid out 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 least three of the five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
People who have inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD, and they can be easily overlooked. But their problems do result in consequences: they might underperform at school, clash more info with classmates or have difficulty to keep their job. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD can be occasionally used but it's not the most popular. The newer name recognizes that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which the disorder manifests itself 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers or parents, or other adults who know the person well and also standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to an extent that they affect the way you function.
It is essential to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treating these other disorders will alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also keep contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working as they should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to seek regular checks with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.