Watch This: How ADHD Diagnoses Is Gaining Ground And What To Do
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
IamPsychiatry will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They may request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn 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 cause issues with learning and relationships at school, at home and at work. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists when needed.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records, and performing a physical exam. You may 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 complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may consist of a description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical examination and laboratory tests.
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 examine for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months and assess whether the symptoms interfere with your family life, at home, at work, and at school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD however their symptoms are likely 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. They may be given as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Adults who present with inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet certain criteria 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 environments. They will also discuss your child's growth medical history and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior to those of other children who are similar to them. They could use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems such as difficulty in 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 be present in at least two environments, make your child perform poorly and last for at least at least six months.
If your child doesn't 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will examine your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and your family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD since the condition is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD the person may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step to get treatment is to find an specialist in the field of 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 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 use brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most crucial component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also request someone who is very familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main environments, like the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories 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 requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. However, their problems can have consequences: they could be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or struggle to keep a job. They need to be treated, too.
The term ADD is still used occasionally 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 is based on the fact that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are a few variations in the way that 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 increases the likelihood that they will not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health care professional. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well and also standard rating scales completed by loved ones and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning in the way they should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD with inattentiveness might benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.