ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. They may ask for old reports and speak with teachers, relatives or friends about 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 cause issues with learning and relationships at home, school and work. Speak to your GP when you or your child displays these symptoms. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they 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, looking over your medical and health records and completing physical examination. It is also possible to mention the history of ADHD in your family to help with the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could comprise an explanation and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers, along with physical examination, lab tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychiatrists and psychology can 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, which lasts for a period of six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your life at home, work and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to minimize the risk of the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your life, both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person who is diagnosed with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition to be eligible for 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 as well as medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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 that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider may 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination to identify any medical issues that may be related to ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history and conduct a thorough interview of your child and your family. They will consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD since the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting our source or a local mental 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 employ computer tests, like continuous performances tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an examination is a patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also ask someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact the individual's daily activities. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including work and home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth 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 particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. However, their issues can have consequences: they could underperform at school, clash with classmates or struggle to find their job. They need to be treated, too.
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 newer definition recognizes that children may only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder manifests 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 less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This may include a medical history review along with a medical interview and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well as well as standard rating scales used by loved ones and educators. These can assist in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are related to another medical or psychiatric condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating these other disorders can 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 remain in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medication is working as they should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications that can aid in improving concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely beneficial for adults and children with 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.