Check Out: How ADHD Diagnoses Is Taking Over And What To Do About It
ADHD Evaluations and DiagnosesThe first step to managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They might request old reports and speak to your family members, teachers or your friends to find out 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 interfere with relationships and learning at home, school and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, talk to a GP. 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 assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records, and performing an examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. These include looking for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for six months or more and determining if these symptoms are affecting your life at home, at work or school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but 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 your adult symptoms match the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must follow certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social settings. Your child's medical history and development history, as well as the family history will be studied. They will then compare your child's behavior with those of children who are their age. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, forgetting about 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 and cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of 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 assessment may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests, as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be similar to ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview with your child and family members. They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance provider or a local support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to check for issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During an interview, the physician will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms impact the person's everyday life. The symptoms have to be significantly affecting two important settings like at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be recognized, the impairment must have been present for at least six months.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Society's 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: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not do well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to hold a job. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used occasionally, 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 designation is based on the fact that children could suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
There are some differences in the way 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 makes it more likely that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. 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 used by loved ones and teachers. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are due to another medical or mental illness such as depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also remain in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is functioning as it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals, click here as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.