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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They might want to look at old report cards and speak to family members, teachers or classmates about your childhood habits.
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. IamPsychiatry may interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and home. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, consult a GP. They can't formally diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records and conducting an examination. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for six months or more and determining if these symptoms are affecting your life at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms tend to 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 meet the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These drugs boost energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to reduce the effects of side effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be conducted by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must adhere to specific 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 developmental medical history and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior with those of children who are their age. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting 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 more than one setting and affect your child's performance and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional 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 assessment may include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and family. They will consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD since the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurer or a local support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also request information from someone who is familiar with the patient well like the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. The symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two major settings such as at work and at home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six months.
During the interview, the doctor will go over the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient is in compliance with 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 requires at least three of the following five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They aren't as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. But their problems do have consequences: they may not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or have difficulty to find an occupation. These people must be treated as well.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD can be used from time to time but it's not the most popular. The newer definition includes the fact that children can be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
There are differences between the way the disorder is manifested by boys and girls. 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include the clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults with an understanding of the individual as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones and by educators. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough evaluation is crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another medical or mental illness such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medication is working in the way they should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular checks with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.