ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family physicians) who is proficient in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They may ask for old reports and talk to family members, teachers or classmates 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 home, school and at work. Talk to your GP when you or your child displays these signs. They can't formally diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and completing a physical exam. It is also possible to discuss the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist 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, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. These include looking for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months, and evaluating whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily routine at work, home and school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however their symptoms will likely present 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 your adult symptoms meet the criteria for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They may be given in extended-release forms to lessen side effects. Adults with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines 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 regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. They will also discuss your child's developmental medical and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior with the behavior of other children his age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavior problems, like inability to pay attention, ignoring things, or 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, cause your child to function poorly and last for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional will assign them an 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 assessment can include psychological and neuropsychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that can mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for an extensive history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, and group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, you must first find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurance provider or asking the local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also ask for information from someone who knows the patient very well like the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms interfere with the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including home and work. diagnosis adhd 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 psychiatric history and determine if the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth 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 details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and can be easily ignored. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well in school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to hold an occupation. These individuals must be treated too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD can be occasionally used, but it is not the most popular. The newer definition is based on the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some variations in the way that the disorder manifests 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 makes them more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a medical professional. This includes a clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person well and also standard rating scales used by loved ones and teachers. These are useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue like depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of these other disorders will alleviate or eliminate 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 remain in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working as they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health care providers because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.