ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making a diagnosis is the first step in understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your background. They may ask for old report cards and speak with teachers, relatives or friends about childhood behavior.
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 relationships and learning at school, work and home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and conducting an examination. You may also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This includes looking for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at work, home and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD however the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 your adult symptoms are in line with the guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to reduce adverse effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines 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 at school, at home and in social settings. They will also discuss your child's developmental medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior against that of other children his age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the inability to pay attention, ignoring 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 two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six 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 examination can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to rule out medical issues like thyroid disorders or head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or the local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most crucial component of an assessment.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also request someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process and can take an hour or more. The physician will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main environments, like the workplace and at more info home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they are in compliance with 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 following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. However, their issues can result in consequences: they might be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or have difficulty to keep a job. These individuals require treatment, too.
The term ADD is still used occasionally however, the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer definition is based on the fact that children may only have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some distinct ways in which the disorder manifests 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This may include an examination of the medical history, a clinical interview, and physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person, as well as normed ratings scales that are that are completed by family members and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treatment of other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medication is working as they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very effective for children and adults with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.