ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an assessment is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct an interview that is designed to look at your past. They may want to see old reports and talk to family members, teachers or classmates about 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. These symptoms can cause issues with learning and relationships at school, home and at work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and completing a physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. what is it worth may include a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers, along with physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms impact your daily life, at home at work, or in school.
Adults may also 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 meet the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Adults who present with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, both professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must adhere to specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association'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 at home, school and social environments. The medical history of your child and development history, as well as the family history will be reviewed. They will then assess your child's behavior with those of other children of similar age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, forgetting about things, or 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 a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet the criteria 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 could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and conduct a physical exam to rule out any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and your family. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might require medication or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking the 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. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. The symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present for at least six month.
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 outlined by the American Psychiatric Association'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: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
People who have inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not perform well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to hold jobs. These individuals also need to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD can be occasionally used but it's not the most commonly used. The new definition takes into account the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some variations in the way that 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 it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a medical professional. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function.
A careful evaluation is also essential to determine if symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some instances treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay contact with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medication is working in the way they should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from inattentive ADHD can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.