ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your background. They may ask to see old reports and speak to teachers, family members 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 also may interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, consult an GP. They are not able 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 documents and your health history, and conducting an exam. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include an explanation and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your family members, along with physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
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 inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for at least six months and assess whether the symptoms affect your life at home, at work, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 your adult symptoms are in line with the guidelines for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing energy and alertness. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to lessen the effects of the effects of side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your daily life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric examination is performed by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person who is diagnosed with a symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in home, school and social settings. They will also go over your child's development medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to that of other children their age. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral 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 different settings that make your child 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 could 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 evaluation can include psychological and neuropsychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also assess your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body 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 teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD because the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling and also group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To start treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurer or asking a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for signs of abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also request anyone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The doctor will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact a person's life. This means that symptoms have to be significantly affecting two main settings, such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview, a clinician will go over the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the person meets 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 five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes and having difficulty focusing 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 as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they can be easily missed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not do well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to find an occupation. These individuals need to be treated, too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD may still be used from time to time however it is not the most commonly used. The newer name takes into account that children can have symptoms of inattention.
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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This may include a medical history review as well as a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person well and also standard ratings scales that are that are completed by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning as they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to seek regular checks with their health adult adhd diagnosis professionals since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.