ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an assessment is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your background. They may ask to see old reports and speak to family members, teachers or friends to get information about your childhood behaviors.
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. If you or your child have these symptoms, speak to a GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical documents and your health history, and performing an examination. You can also provide the background of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include a 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 are able to diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using 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 at least six months and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your life at home, work and school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however, their symptoms will likely present 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 requirements for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. These medications can be administered in an extended-release version to minimize the risk of side effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who has a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. The medical history of your child and development history, as well as the family history will be reviewed. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with those of children who are his age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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 more than one setting and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders or head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child and your family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
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 may include individual and family counseling, as well as group more info therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or a local mental support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors utilize brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also ask anyone who is familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend much time with the patient. This is a lengthy process and can take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact a person's life. The symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview, a clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine whether or not the person meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to find a job. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
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 designation takes into account the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
There are differences between the way that the disorder is exhibited 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a medical professional. This includes the clinical interview, medical history review and 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 loved ones as well as teachers. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible side effects. They should also keep in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment for inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD with inattentiveness can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is essential to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.