ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They might request old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to learn about your childhood habits.
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 relationships and learning at work, school and at home. Talk to your GP when you or your child displays these signs. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical documents and your health history, and then performing physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include a description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers, and a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can 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. This includes looking for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining if these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms are more likely to manifest 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are sometimes employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of the symptoms that could affect your professional and personal lives. A psychiatric evaluation can be performed by a licensed 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 an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must follow 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 ask questions about your child's behavior at school, at home and in social settings. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be studied. They will then assess your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They can use standard rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behaviors, like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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 occur in a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause problems and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child does not meet all 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 can include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests and neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be similar to ADHD symptoms. They might also request an extensive history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling, as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step to get treatment is to find an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or the 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 use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an examination is a patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also request details from someone who knows the patient very well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that could take an hour or more. The physician will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the examination with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the individual's daily activities. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major environments, like the workplace and at home. For ADHD to be recognized, the impairment must have been present for at least six months.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient meets 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 such as difficulty paying attention particulars, making read more mistakes and having difficulty focusing on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak.
The following is a list of preventions.
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. However, their problems can have consequences: they could be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with their peers, or find it difficult to find their job. These individuals also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used occasionally, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer designation takes into account the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
There are differences in the manner in which 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 means they are more likely to not be diagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults with a good understanding of the person, and normative rating scales completed both by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue like depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who have been diagnosed with the disorder should to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may require adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.