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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They might request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or friends to get information about your 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. These symptoms can also cause problems with learning and relationships at home, school and work. Consult your GP when you or your child displays these symptoms. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting an examination. You can also mention your family's history of ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. diagnose adhd in adults may include a description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more, and evaluate whether these symptoms interfere with your family life, at home at work, at home, and at school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, 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 meet the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person with a symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must follow certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, in school, and in social situations. They will also go over your child's growth as well as medical and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They can employ standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior problems, like inability to focus, 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 occur in two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause disruption and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child doesn't meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider 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 tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that can be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for a detailed history of the problem from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD, they may need treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, and also group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulse control problems. Other doctors utilize brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During the interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor will also request information from someone who knows the patient very 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 very thorough procedure that can be a long time. The clinician will then complete an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the exam 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 patient'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 condition must have been present at minimum six months.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the person meets the diagnostic criteria set 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 requires at least three of the five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. But their problems do have consequences: they could underperform at school, clash with peers or struggle to keep their job. They also have to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time but it's not the most popular. The newer name takes into account that children may only have symptoms of inattention.
There are some differences in the way that the disorder is manifested 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 increases the likelihood that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health professional. This may include an assessment of medical history along with a medical interview, and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative ratings scales, both by loved ones as well as teachers. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment they receive and potential side effects. They should also stay in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning exactly 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 behavior therapy and parent training, can be very beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to seek regular checks with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.