ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They may request old reports and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn 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. These symptoms can cause issues with learning and relationships at school, at home and work. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to an GP. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialists, if required.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records, and performing a physical exam. 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 complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more and assess whether the symptoms impact your daily family life, at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, their symptoms are more likely to present 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 match the guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in extended-release form to lessen the effects of the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric evaluation can be conducted by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must adhere to 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 evaluation Your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in school, at home and in social settings. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be reviewed. They will then assess your child's behaviors to those of other children their age. They can use standard rating scales to measure the frequency of specific behaviors, like difficulty paying attention, forgetting 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, cause your child to function poorly, and last for six months.
If your child doesn't 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 assessment could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and your family. They will also consider whether there is any family history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, and group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurer or a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors employ computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to determine problems with attention and impulse control. Some doctors also use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor might also ask someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can last up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact a person's life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major situations, including the workplace and at 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 the person's medical and mental health history and determine if the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria established 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 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's words when they speak.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and can be easily overlooked. However, their issues can have consequences: they could be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with classmates or struggle to find an occupation. They also have to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD may still be occasionally used, but it is not the most popular. The newer designation takes into account the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While many of the symptoms are common to all instances, there are differences in how the disorder manifests 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 will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers or parents, or other adults who know the person well as well as standard rating scales that are completed by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning.
A thorough examination is important to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
People who are who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. how are adults diagnosed with adhd should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medication is working exactly as they should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education, can be very efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. It is essential to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since some patients may need adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.