ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician) who specializes in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct an interview that is designed to look at your past. They may request old reports and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn 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 at home. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records, and performing an examination. It is also possible to provide the history of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children 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 or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily routine at work, home and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms tend 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 your adult symptoms are in line with the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to reduce side effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could affect your personal and professional life. A psychiatric examination is conducted by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor or other type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines set forth 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 in home, school and social settings. They will also review your child's developmental as well as medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to that of other children his age. They can use standard ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, forgetting about things, or interrupting other people.
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 that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six 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 thorough psychiatric examination could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD because the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, it is necessary to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental health support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for impulsivity and attention issues. Some doctors also use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor may also request details from someone who knows the patient very well for example, the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take an hour or more. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major environments, like the workplace and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the condition must have been present at least six month.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be backed by at least three of the five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to small details and making careless mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on activities or tasks or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing to be distracted.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They aren't as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often missed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They might not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to keep a job. These individuals require treatment, too.
The term ADD is still used click here frequently 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.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few differences in how the disorder presents itself 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health care professional. This may include the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales, both by loved ones and by educators. These are useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough examination is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different medical or psychiatric condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treatment of other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential side effects. They should also remain in touch with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are working as they should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their healthcare providers because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.