ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your background. They may request old reports and talk to family members, teachers or friends to learn about your 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 cause problems with relationships and learning at school, home and at work. Consult your GP in the event that you or your child displays 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 can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and completing physical examination. You may also mention your family's history of ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could comprise an explanation and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers, as well as physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. This includes looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms are affecting your life at home, work and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way, but their symptoms tend 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 criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in extended-release form to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of symptoms which may be affecting both your personal and professional life. A psychiatric assessment can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD evaluation Your healthcare provider will ask questions regarding your child's behavior in home, school and social settings. The medical history of your child and development history, as well as the family history will be reviewed. They will then compare your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the inability to pay attention, forgetting about 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 occur in more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child isn't meeting 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 evaluation could include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and family members. They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, as well as group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurance provider or asking a 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. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most crucial component of an evaluation.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor might also request someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. Iam Psychiatry is a lengthy procedure that can last up to an hour. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to that the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two main settings, such as at work and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric 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 Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
People with inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. However, their problems can have consequences: they could underperform at school, clash with their peers, or struggle to find a job. They require treatment, too.
The term ADD is still used frequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version takes into account that children may only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
There are some differences in the way that the disorder is manifested 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health professional. This includes a medical history review as well as a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential side effects. They should also keep in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning as they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from inattentive ADHD might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.