ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your background. They may ask to see old reports and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn about your childhood behavior.
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. The symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and home. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, consult a GP. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and completing physical examination. You may 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 conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include an explanation of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months and determine if these symptoms affect your life, at home, at work, and at school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, as well as improving focus and concentration. They may be given as extended-release versions to reduce adverse effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your life, both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who is diagnosed with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must follow specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. Your child's medical history and development history, as well as the family history will be examined. They will then compare your child's behavior to those of children who are his age. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the 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 be present in more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet all of the criteria to qualify 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 can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also ask for a detailed history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to locate an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurer or asking the 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 make use of computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Others utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an assessment.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also request details from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete a report and discuss the results of the assessment with the patient.
It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main situations, including work and home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
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 Assocation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of the five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to the smallest of details and making careless mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or activities and difficulty listening when talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
The following is a list of preventatives.
People who have inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. But their problems do result in consequences: they might underperform at school, clash with peers or have difficulty to keep a job. They also have to be treated.
The term ADD is still used infrequently however the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version recognizes that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are variations in the way that the disorder manifests itself between 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 makes it more likely that diagnosing adhd adults they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health care 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 knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales, both by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
A careful evaluation is also crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical condition, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular checks with their healthcare providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.