ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to obtain a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They may request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or friends to learn about your childhood behavior.
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 school, work and at home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, speak to a GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required.
A GP will be able to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical documents and your health history, and then performing a physical exam. You can also discuss the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could comprise a description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can 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. These include looking for an inattention pattern, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for a period of six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your life at work, home and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms tend 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, like 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 professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in home, school and social environments. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be examined. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior against those of children who are their age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring 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 and cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional 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 complete psychiatric examination may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to rule out medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. ADHD Diagnosis might also request an extensive history of the issue from parents and teachers 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 genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, you need to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by 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 the names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors employ computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to test for problems with attention and impulse control. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also seek out anyone who is familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend much time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is extremely important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by the extent to which the symptoms affect a person's life. The symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine whether or not the patient is in compliance with 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 must be supported by at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty remaining 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
People who have inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. However, their issues can have consequences: they may be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with classmates or have difficulty to keep an occupation. They also have 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 new definition is based on the fact that children can be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
There are some differences in the way the disorder is exhibited by 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 seek treatment.
A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes an assessment of medical history as well as a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well, as well as normed ratings scales that are that are completed by family members and educators. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present to a degree that impacts the functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are related to another psychiatric or medical issue like anxiety or depression. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment they receive and potential side effects. They should also remain in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medication is working in the way they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment for inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular checks with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.