ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They might want to look at old reports and talk to parents, relatives or even 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. The symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at work, school and home. Speak to your GP if you or your child is showing these symptoms. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and conducting an examination. You may also discuss the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include an explanation and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers and a physical exam, lab tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer, and evaluate whether these symptoms impact your daily life at home at work, or in school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely 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 match the guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed in extended-release form to reduce side effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who is diagnosed with a symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must follow certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior at school, at home and in social environments. They will also go over your child's growth, medical history and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior with those of other children their age. They could use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behaviors, such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring 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, affect your child's functioning and cause problems and be 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 thorough psychiatric assessment may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also request a detailed history of the problem from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other 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 someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, it is necessary to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance provider or a local support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to test for problems click here with attention and impulse control. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor might also request anyone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for information. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms impact the person's everyday life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main situations, including home and work. For ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present at least six month.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they meet 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: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes and having difficulty focusing 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 diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to hold a job. These individuals require treatment, as well.
The term ADD is still used occasionally, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer definition recognizes that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are some differences in the way the disorder is exhibited 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 reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This includes a medical history review along with a medical interview, and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and educators. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning.
A thorough examination is essential to determine if symptoms are due to another medical or mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also stay contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working in the way they should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very effective for children and adults with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.