ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an assessment is the first step in understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They may request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or friends to get information 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. These symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at home, school and work. Consult your GP if you or your child exhibits these symptoms. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting a physical exam. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms affect your family life, at home, at work, and in school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms are more likely to manifest 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 requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific, you may be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. They may be given in extended-release forms to lessen the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain and improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. They will also go over your child's development medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things and interrupting other children.
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 two or more settings, affect your child's functioning and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child is not able to 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can include psychological and neuropsychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They can also ask teachers and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as also group therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you must first locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking your local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to check for issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also ask for details from someone who knows the patient well like the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can last up to an hour. The clinician will complete an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to which the symptoms impact the individual's daily activities. This means that symptoms must be significantly affecting two main 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 clinician will go over the patient's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria established 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 least three of the five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
People who have inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often dismissed. However, their issues can have consequences: they could not perform well at school, get into trouble with peers or struggle to keep an occupation. These people also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used frequently 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 definition takes into account that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder manifests itself between 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 makes it more likely that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This includes the clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers, parents or other adults who know the person, as well as normed ratings scales that are used by loved ones and educators. These are useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
browse around this site who are who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition too. It is essential to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.