ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an assessment is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They may ask to see old reports and speak to family members, teachers or friends to learn about your 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 exhibits these symptoms. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.
A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your medical history, and conducting a physical examination. You may also mention the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer, and evaluate whether these symptoms impact your daily family life, at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms are more likely to 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 could be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, as well as improving focus and concentration. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattentive ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of your symptoms that could affect your personal and professional life. A psychiatric assessment is performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD someone with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. They will also review your child's developmental, medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to those of other children of similar age. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about things and 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 be present in a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If getting diagnosed with adhd does not meet all of the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis 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 complete psychiatric examination may include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to rule out medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD because the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, and group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, you need to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurance company or your local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to determine problems with attention and impulse control. Other doctors utilize brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most crucial element of an examination is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also ask someone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is extremely important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major settings, such as work and home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine if the person meets 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 five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.
The following is a list of preventions.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and are often missed. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not do well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to find jobs. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used but it's not the most commonly used. The newer name recognizes that children can have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some variations in the way that 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 makes it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a medical professional. This may include the clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative ratings scales completed both by loved ones and by educators. These are useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough examination is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some cases, treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also stay in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment for inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition too. It is essential to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.