ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an assessment is the first step in understanding and managing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to get information about your childhood behaviors.
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 interfere with learning and relationships at school, home and work. Talk to your GP if you or your child displays these signs. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed.
A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and conducting an exam. It is also possible to mention the background of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms impact your daily family life, at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, 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 criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These drugs improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing alertness and energy. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has a diagnosis based on symptoms (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 in the home, school and social settings. They will also go over your child's developmental as well as medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are their age. They can use standard ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, forgetting about 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 occur in a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning and cause disruption and be present for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all the criteria for a diagnosis 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 thorough psychiatric assessment may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to rule out any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin 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 support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an examination is a patient interview.
During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor may also request information from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the life of a person. The symptoms have to be significant in two major settings such as at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria set forth 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 close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks and difficulty listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD, and they are often ignored. But their problems do have consequences: they may not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or have difficulty to hold their job. These individuals need to be treated, too.
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 newer version is based on the fact that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This involves an examination of the medical history as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by family members and teachers. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
A careful evaluation is also essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different medical or psychiatric condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Those diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. how to get an adult adhd diagnosis should also remain in contact with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medication is working in the way they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children with inattentive ADHD can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may need adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.