ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They may want to see old report cards and talk to teachers, relatives or friends about 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 work, school and at home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, speak to an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records, and performing an examination. You can also provide the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your family members, as well as physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms interfere with your life at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms will likely present 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 your adult symptoms match the criteria for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications boost energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in extended-release form to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of your symptoms that could affect your personal and professional life. A psychiatric examination is conducted by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who is diagnosed with a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in the home, school and social environments. They will also go over your child's development medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior with those of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the inability to pay attention, forgetting about things, or 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. diagnosed with adhd must be present in at least two different settings that make your child perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child does not meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider 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 thorough psychiatric evaluation can include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that could mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for an extensive history of the problem from caregivers 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, as it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to find an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking the local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also ask for details from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can take an hour or more. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as home and work. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria outlined 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 least three of the five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD, and they can be easily missed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to keep a job. They need to be treated, too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time but it's not the most popular. The newer definition recognizes that children can have symptoms of inattention.
There are differences between the way that the disorder is presented 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
It is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue like anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind people 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.