ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your background. They may request old reports and talk to family members, teachers or friends to learn about your 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 relationships and learning at school, work and at home. Talk to your GP when you or your child is showing these symptoms. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records, and performing a physical exam. It is also possible to provide the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for a period of six months or more and determining if these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms are more 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 may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to reduce side effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. Your child's medical history and development history, as well as the family history will be studied. They will then evaluate your child's behavior with the behavior of other children of similar age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, ignoring things and 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 two or more settings that affect your child's behavior and cause problems and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider 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 cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is any family history of ADHD since the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling, as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurer or asking 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 programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others 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 evaluation.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also ask someone who is very familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling, for details. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long procedure that can last up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is vital to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. The symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two main settings, such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present for at least 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 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 particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
People with inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD, and they can be easily overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well in school, experience disagreements with their peers or struggle to find a job. They also have to be treated.
The term ADD is click here still used infrequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The new definition includes the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which the disorder presents 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes an assessment of medical history as well as 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 used by loved ones and educators. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain in touch with their doctor to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children with ADHD with inattentiveness may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is essential to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.