ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. They might request old reports and talk to teachers, family members or friends to get information 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 cause issues with relationships and learning at home, school and at work. Consult your GP if you or your child displays these signs. They are unable to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed.
A GP can determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical records and your medical history, and then performing a physical exam. You can also mention the history of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They will look for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms will likely present 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 requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults You may 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 extended-release form to minimize the risk of the effects of side effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person who is diagnosed with a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be studied. They will then assess your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty in paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting other children.
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 disruption, and have been present for at least six (6) months.
If your child doesn't meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could diagnose them with 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 psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and 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 a person has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can 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 area. Some doctors employ computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to check for issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most crucial component of an assessment.
During an interview, the physician will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also ask for details from someone who knows the patient very here well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. 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 last up to an hour. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that symptoms must be significant in two main settings, such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present at minimum six months.
During the interview, the clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria established 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 requires at least three of the following five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD, and they are often overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find an occupation. These people also need to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD may still be occasionally used but it's not the most popular. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder presents 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes a clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are related to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases treatment of other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect in terms of their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also keep contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medication is working as they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD with inattentiveness can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may need adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.