ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your past. They might want to look at old report cards and talk to family members, teachers or classmates about childhood behaviors.
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. The symptoms also may interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and at home. Speak to your GP when you or your child is showing these symptoms. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and then performing an examination. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include an explanation and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers along with a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
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 patterns that last for at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your life at home, at work, and in school.
Adults can also 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 your adult symptoms match the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They are available as extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD, must meet certain 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 will 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 developmental medical history and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to those of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavioral problems like 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 be present in at least two environments, cause your child to perform poorly and last for at least six months.
If your child isn't meeting the requirements 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They will take into consideration whether there is a family history of ADHD since the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may 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 find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurer or a local support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your read more area. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans like 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 the interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also ask for information from someone who is familiar with the patient well like siblings, spouses or a parent. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete a report and discuss the findings of the assessment 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 the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major situations, including the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine if the person meets 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 backed by at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks and difficulty listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might underperform at school, clash with their peers, or have difficulty to keep their job. These people also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used infrequently, 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 is based on the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
There are differences between the manner in which the disorder is presented 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 makes it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health care professional. This may include the clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person well as well as standard rating scales that are completed by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases, 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 the treatment and possible side effects. They should also keep in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training can be extremely beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular checks with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.