ADHD Diagnoses It's Not As Hard As You Think
ADHD Evaluations and DiagnosesFinding an assessment is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They may request old reports and talk to family members, teachers or friends to learn 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 school, at home and work. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records and completing a physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers as well as physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychology and psychiatry can help 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 six months or longer and assess whether the symptoms affect your life at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms are more 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 your adult symptoms match the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults with ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive symptoms of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a 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 an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. They will also go over your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are their age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or interrupting other children.
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 different settings that cause your child to perform poorly and last for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all of the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider will assign them 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders or head injuries that can be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also request a detailed history of the problem from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling as also group therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you need to locate a more info professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Some doctors also use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial part of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor might also request someone who is familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend much 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 results with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. The symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the patient is in compliance with 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 minimum three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors and having difficulty focusing on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to hold an occupation. These people must be treated as well.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time, but it is not the most popular. The newer definition is based on the fact that children may be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
While many of the symptoms are common to all instances, there are variations in the way that the disorder manifests itself 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 not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an understanding of the individual as well as normative ratings scales completed both by loved ones as well as educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are working in the way they should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.