ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is proficient in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may want to see old report cards and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about 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. These symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, home and at work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records, and performing physical examination. You may also discuss the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include a description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This includes looking for an inattention pattern, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms are more likely to present differently as they age. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both.
If you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults You may be prescribed medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Adults who present with inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal lives. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must follow certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. They will also go over your child's developmental, medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty in 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 be present in at least two different settings, cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child isn't meeting the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could 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 examination could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also assess your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They'll also look into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as also group therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin 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 company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors employ computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulse control. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant element of an examination is a patient interview.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The doctor will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete an assessment report and discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect a person's life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main settings, such as work and home. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Assocation'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 such as difficulty paying attention specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
how to get an adult adhd diagnosis with inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with their peers, or find it difficult to find an occupation. These individuals 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 an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name takes into account that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
There are differences in 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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This may include an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard scales of rating completed by loved ones and educators. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to another medical or psychiatric condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are working in the way they should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD with inattentiveness may benefit from other treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular checks with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.