ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your past. They may ask for old reports and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about childhood behaviors.
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. The symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and home. Consult your GP in the event that you or your child exhibits these signs. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records, and performing physical examination. You may also provide the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychiatrists and psychologists 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 or hyperactivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily routine at home, work and school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however, their symptoms are 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 match the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve concentration and focus, while increasing energy and alertness. They may be given as extended-release versions to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A psychiatric examination is conducted by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor or other type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior at school, at home and in social environments. They will also go over your child's developmental, medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children their age. They could use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting others.
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 a minimum of six months.
If your child is not able to meet the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider 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 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 conduct a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and caregivers for a detailed history and conduct a thorough interview of your child and family members. They'll also look into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking a 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. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Others use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an examination is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for information. The doctor will also interview teachers or 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 clinician will then complete an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the condition must have been present at minimum six months.
During the interview, the 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 five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
The following is a list of preventions.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and are often overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not do well in school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to find an occupation. These people must be treated as well.
The term ADD is still used infrequently however, the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are differences in the way that the disorder is presented by 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 assessment by a health professional. This involves a medical history review, a clinical interview, website and a physical exam. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales, both by loved ones as well as educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
It is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue like depression or anxiety. In some cases, treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also stay in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is working in the way it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatment for inattention ADHD. They can help improve 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 as well. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.