ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an assessment is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They may ask to see old reports and talk to family members, teachers or friends to get information about your childhood behaviors.
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 also may interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and at home. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, talk to an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.
A GP will be able to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and performing physical examination. It is also possible to discuss the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory 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 an inattention pattern or hyperactivity, which lasts for a period of six months or more and determining if these symptoms have a significant impact on your life at work, home and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms are more likely to present differently as they grow 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 are in line with the requirements for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These medications improve concentration and focus, while increasing energy and alertness. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of symptoms which may be affecting both your professional and personal life. A psychiatric examination is conducted by an accredited mental health specialist or 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 meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also review your child's development, medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior with the behavior of other children of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring 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 a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause disruption and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child is not able to meet 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 can include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child and your family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to find an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or your local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for impulsivity and attention issues. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most crucial component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also ask adult diagnosis for adhd someone who is very familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend long periods of time with the patient. It is a long procedure that can last up to an hour. The doctor will then write a report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that the symptoms have to be significant in two important settings like at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at minimum six months.
During the interview, the doctor will go over the patient's medical and mental health history and determine if the patient is in compliance with 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 following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list of preventions.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to keep a job. They also have to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time but it's not the most common. The newer designation takes into account the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some distinct ways in which 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 means they are more likely to not be diagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an understanding of the individual as well as normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function.
A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another medical or mental illness like anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
People who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medication is working in the way they should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications that can aid in improving concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.