ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an accurate diagnosis is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. They may ask for old reports and speak to 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. The symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at work, school and home. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed.
get adhd diagnosis can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical records and your medical history, and then performing an examination. You can also mention your family's history of ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may consist of an explanation of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following 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 at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your life at home, at work, and at school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, their symptoms tend 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 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 medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They are available in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of symptoms which may be affecting both your personal and professional life. A psychiatric evaluation is performed by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior at school, at home and in social environments. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be reviewed. They will then compare your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are their age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, 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 at least two different settings and make your child perform poorly and last for a minimum of at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional may 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 thorough psychiatric examination could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview with your child and family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, and also group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive 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 insurance company or a local support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also ask someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by the extent to which the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as the workplace and at home. For ADHD to be diagnosed, the impairment must have been present at least six month.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Assocation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of the five symptoms: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making careless mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on work or activities, trouble listening when talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often ignored. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to hold an occupation. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD can be used from time to time however it is not the most commonly used. The newer designation is based on the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
There are some differences in the way the disorder is manifested by 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 means they are more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and a physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones and by educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to affect functioning.
A thorough evaluation is crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
People who are who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Adults and children with inattentive ADHD may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.