ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an assessment is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They might want to look at old reports and talk to teachers, relatives or friends about childhood behavior.
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 interfere with relationships and learning at home, school and work. Talk to your GP if you or your child exhibits these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your health history and medical records and completing a physical exam. You may also mention your family's history of ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and assess whether the symptoms affect your life at home, at work, and at school.
Adults may 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific, you may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step in managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A psychiatric evaluation is performed by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person with a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in home, school and social environments. They will also review your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then assess your child's behaviors to those of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems, such as inability to pay attention, ignoring things and interrupting other people.
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 environments and cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child does not meet the criteria 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 thorough psychiatric examination could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be similar to ADHD symptoms. They might also request a detailed history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and perform a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling and group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or a 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 use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant element of an examination is a patient-patient interview.
During diagnosing adult adhd ADHD Diagnosis , the clinician will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also request anyone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can last up to an hour. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms impact the person's everyday life. This means that symptoms must be significantly affecting two main settings, such as at work and at home. For ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present at minimum six months.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the 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 such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they can be easily overlooked. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not perform well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to hold an occupation. These individuals require treatment, as well.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used but it's not the most popular. The newer definition is based on the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
There are differences in the way that 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. This may include an assessment of medical history, a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well and also standard scales of rating completed by loved ones and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as depression or anxiety. In some instances treatment of other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also stay in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular checks with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.