ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an assessment is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They may request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or your friends to find out 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. These symptoms can also cause problems with relationships and learning at work, school and home. Speak to your GP when you or your child is showing these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required.
A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical records and your medical history, and conducting a physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months and assess whether the symptoms impact your daily life, at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD, but 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 may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of the effects of side effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. 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 evaluation your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. They will also go over your child's development medical history and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with that of other children of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behaviors, 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 a minimum of 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. adhd diagnose will also check your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They might also request details about the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly heritable.
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 well as group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors utilize brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an evaluation.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also seek information from someone who knows the patient well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the individual's daily activities. This means that the person's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main situations, including work and home. The impairment must have been 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 whether or not 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 is based on at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on work or activities, trouble listening when talking to others and daydreaming or seeming distracted.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often dismissed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to hold jobs. These people also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used infrequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The new definition takes into account the fact that children can be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder manifests between 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health care professional. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well as well as standard scales of rating used by loved ones and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible side effects. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very beneficial for adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.