ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your history. They might want to look at old reports and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about 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. These symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, at home and work. Consult your GP when you or your child is showing these signs. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and completing a physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include an explanation and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
adhd diagnose 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. This includes looking for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your life at work, home and school.
Adults may 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. They may be given as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. 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 the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school, and in social situations. They will also go over your child's growth, medical and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to those of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting 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 environments that cause your child to function poorly, and last for six months.
If your child isn't meeting the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider 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 evaluation may include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests, as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination to identify any medical issues that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as well as group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting 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. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an assessment.
During the interview, the therapist will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete a report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to that the symptoms affect the individual's daily activities. This means that symptoms must be significant in two major settings such as at work and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, a clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric 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 Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors and having difficulty focusing on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and can be easily ignored. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or struggle to hold their job. These people also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used occasionally however the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health professional. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an understanding of the person, as well as normative rating scales completed both by family members and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also keep contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are working as they should.
Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is essential to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.