These Are The Most Common Mistakes People Make With ADHD Diagnoses
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They might request old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to learn 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at work, school and at home. If you or your child have these symptoms, speak to a GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and conducting an examination. It is also possible to provide the background of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of 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.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents with the help of 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, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD however their symptoms are 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 criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, as well as improving focus and concentration. They can be prescribed in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has an underlying 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 will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, in school and in social settings. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be reviewed. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to those of other children who are similar to them. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior issues, such as the 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 a variety of settings that affect your child's behavior and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider will assign them an 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 assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. IamPsychiatry will conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that could mimic ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview with your child and your family. They'll also be looking into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, as well as group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to locate an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurer or asking 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, like continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Some doctors also use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most crucial element of an examination is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that prompted 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 talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can last up to an hour. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the individual's daily activities. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major environments, like work and home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, 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 meet the diagnostic criteria outlined 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 that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors and having difficulty focusing on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often missed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to keep a job. These people must be treated too.
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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are distinct ways in which the disorder manifests between 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 them more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good understanding of the individual as well as normative ratings scales, both by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that they affect the way you function.
A careful evaluation is also important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like 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 and possible side effects. They should also stay in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is essential to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctors regularly, as certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.