ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an assessment is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. 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. These symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, at home and work. Consult your GP when you or your child is showing these symptoms. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.
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 can also discuss the background of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. who diagnoses adhd will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include the description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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. They will look for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your life at home, at work or school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, 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 adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They may be given in extended-release forms to lessen side effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal lives. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person with an underlying 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, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment, your healthcare provider will ask questions regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social environments. They will also discuss your child's growth, medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to those of other children of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty in paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting other children.
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 that cause your child to function poorly and last for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all of the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be similar to ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family members. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important element of an evaluation.
During the interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also request anyone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The doctor will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will write a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD depends on how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. The symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present at minimum six months.
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 set forth by the American Psychiatric Assocation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making careless mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on work or activities and difficulty listening when talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
The following is a list of preventions.
People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not do 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 term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used, but it is not the most commonly used. The newer version takes into account that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a medical professional. That includes a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by 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 teachers. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to another medical or psychiatric condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances treatment of other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working exactly as they should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very efficient for both adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may need adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.