ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your past. They may request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or your friends to find out 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. Speak to your GP if you or your child displays these symptoms. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your medical history, and conducting a physical examination. It is also possible to discuss the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers, along with a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They will look for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily routine at home, work and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms tend 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 may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, while increasing energy and alertness. These medications may be given in extended-release form to lessen the effects of side effects. Adults with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also go over your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to those of children who are their age. how to get an adhd diagnosis can use standard rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavior 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 two or more settings, affect your child's functioning and cause disruption, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet all of the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional will assign them 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 examine your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers for a detailed background and conduct an extensive interview with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step to receive treatment is to find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental health support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors utilize brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an examination is a patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also seek information from someone who knows the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take up to an hour. The doctor will write an evaluation report and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is vital to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major environments, like the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history and determine whether or not the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set 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 following five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
People who have inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find jobs. These people require treatment, too.
The term ADD is still used infrequently however the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version recognizes that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all instances, there are variations in the way that 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 makes them more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health care professional. This may include the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and by teachers. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are related to another psychiatric or medical issue such as anxiety or depression. In some cases treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
People who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning as they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment for inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition too. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.