ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They might request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or your friends to find out about your childhood behavior.
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. These symptoms can also cause problems with learning and relationships at home, school and at work. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, speak to an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your health history and medical records and conducting an examination. You may also mention the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include an explanation and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your family members, as well as physical examination, lab tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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 an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms have a significant impact on your life at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms are more likely to manifest 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 get diagnosed with adhd meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific You may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing energy and alertness. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to lessen the effects of side effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person who is diagnosed with a diagnosis based on symptoms such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. They will also discuss your child's development medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about things and 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 be present in two or more 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 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment may include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical exam and check your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can mimic ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, and group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to receive treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for impulsivity and attention issues. Some doctors also use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also ask someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The doctor will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can take up to an hour. The physician will then write an assessment report and discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main situations, including work and home. To be eligible for ADHD to be recognized the disorder must have been present for at least six months.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the patient meets 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 minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. However, their issues can have consequences: they could not perform well at school, get into trouble with their peers, or struggle to hold an occupation. These people also need to be treated with respect.
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 an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name recognizes that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which 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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes an assessment of medical history along with a medical interview, and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good understanding of the person, and normative rating scales, both by loved ones and by educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different medical or mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who are who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Children and adults with inattentive ADHD may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular checks with their health care providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.