ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may request old reports and speak to family members, teachers or friends to learn about your childhood habits.
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 work, school and 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 required.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and conducting an examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could comprise the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers, as well as physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look 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 in school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms are more likely to 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 may be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing alertness and energy. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize adverse effects. our source who suffer from inattentive ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of symptoms which may affect your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person 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 an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. They will also review your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are their age. They can use standard ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavior issues, such as the inability to pay attention, 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 and cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of at least six months.
If your child does not meet the requirements 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and parents for a thorough history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD because the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, you need to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or a local support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer tests, like continuous performances tests, to determine issues with impulse control and attention. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for any abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also ask for details from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend much time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms have to 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 condition must have been present for at least six months.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the person meets the diagnostic criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association in the 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: difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
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 their job. They need to be treated, too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD can be used from time to time however it is not the most common. The newer definition is based on the fact that children can be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder presents 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 them more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes the clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative ratings scales completed both by loved ones and by teachers. These can assist in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that affects functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases treating these other disorders will alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible side effects. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.