ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an assessment is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They may ask for old report cards and talk to teachers, relatives or friends 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 also interfere with relationships and learning at school, at home and at work. Talk to your GP when you or your child is showing these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your medical history, and then performing an exam. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include an explanation and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your family members, as well as physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists 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. These include looking for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for a period of six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely 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 criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric examination is performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school, and in social situations. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be examined. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior to that of other children their age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, 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 environments and make your child perform poorly and last for at least at least six months.
If your child doesn't 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 thorough psychiatric evaluation could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also request an extensive history of the problem from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication and/or therapy for get more info behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, you need to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors utilize brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most crucial component of an assessment.
During an interview, the physician 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 clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend much time with the patient. This is a thorough process that could take up to an hour. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to that the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that symptoms must be significantly affecting two important settings like at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present at minimum six months.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine whether or not 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 must be supported by at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to small details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
People who have inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. But their problems do result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with their peers, or find it difficult to keep a job. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used frequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer designation includes the fact that children can be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder presents itself between girls and boys. 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.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health professional. This includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales, both by loved ones as well as educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to affect functioning.
A careful evaluation is also essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from inattentive ADHD can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular checks with their health care providers, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.