ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They might want to look at old report cards and speak to family members, teachers or classmates about your childhood habits.
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 relationships and learning at work, school and home. Speak to your GP when you or your child is showing these signs. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and completing physical examination. You can also discuss the history of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, along with physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They will look for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your life at work, home and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed in extended-release forms to lessen side effects. Adults who present with inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person with a symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must follow specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, in school and in social settings. They will also go over your child's developmental as well as medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior to those of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems like 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 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 doesn't meet all of 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that can mimic ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family members. They'll also look into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to locate an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to determine attention and impulse control problems. Other doctors use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element 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 request information from someone who knows the patient well like the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take an hour or more. The physician will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the examination with the patient.
It is essential to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major settings, such as home and work. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the condition must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria established 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 supported by at least three of these five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on tasks or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are talking to others and daydreaming or seeming distracted.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. But their problems do have consequences: they may underperform at school, clash with classmates or have difficulty to keep an occupation. These people 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 new definition takes into account the fact that children may be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
There are differences between the manner in which 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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who know the patient well as well as standard scales of rating used by loved ones and educators. These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that affects functioning.
A thorough examination is essential to determine if 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 need be aware of the potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition as well. It is essential to remind those get more info who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.