ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an assessment is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They might want to look at old report cards and speak with parents, relatives or even friends about 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 also may interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and at home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed.
A GP can determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your health history, and then performing an examination. It is also possible to mention the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical examination and laboratory 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. This includes looking for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for six months or more and determining if these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way, but their symptoms are more likely to manifest 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 specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize side effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A psychiatric evaluation can be conducted by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person with a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also review your child's developmental, medical history and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior with the behavior of other children his age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about 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 at least two settings that make your child perform poorly, and last for at least 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment may include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and complete a physical exam to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the problem from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD, they may need treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling as well as group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, you need to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, like continuous performances tests, to determine problems with attention and impulse control. Others utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for any abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an examination is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also ask for information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The physician will then write a report and discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms must be significant in two important settings like at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health 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 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's voice when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or find it difficult to keep their job. These people also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used frequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer designation is based on the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
There are some differences in the way the disorder is presented by 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 them more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health professional. This involves a medical history review as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good understanding of the person, and normative rating scales completed both by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Those diagnosed with website the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are working as they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Children and adults with ADHD with inattentiveness might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their healthcare providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.