ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They may request old reports and talk to family members, teachers 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. The symptoms also may interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and home. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting a physical exam. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise the description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. getting a diagnosis for adhd examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms affect your life, at home at work, at home, and at school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD however, the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 your adult symptoms match the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to reduce side effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. They will also go over your child's development, medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children of similar age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behavioral 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 be present in more than one setting and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet the criteria to qualify 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 assessment can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, you must first find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurer 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 area. Some doctors employ computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to test for issues with impulse control and attention. Some doctors also use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an assessment.
During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also request details from someone who knows the patient well like siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms interfere with the life of a person. This means that the symptoms must 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 a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set 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 backed by at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities, trouble listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. But their problems do have consequences: they may be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with their peers, or find it difficult to find their job. These individuals also need to be treated.
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 commonly used. The newer name is based on the fact that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
There are some differences in the way the disorder is manifested 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 makes it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes the clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers, parents or other adults who know the person as well as standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to affect functioning.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by another medical or mental illness like anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also remain in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is functioning in the way it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.