ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They may want to see old reports and speak with family members, teachers or classmates about 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 relationships and learning at school, at home and at work. If you or your child have these symptoms, talk to an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and completing an examination. You can also discuss the history of your family members with ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychiatrists and psychology 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 inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms impact your daily life, at home at work, or at school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD however the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of the symptoms that could affect your professional and personal lives. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be examined. They will then evaluate your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty in paying attention, forgetting things and 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 environments and cause your child to function poorly and last for a minimum of at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could 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 assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. adhd diagnosis uk adults will also check your child's blood pressure, and perform a physical exam to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They might also request details about the issue from parents and teachers and perform a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD since the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well for example, the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the extent to that the symptoms affect the person's everyday life. This means that the person's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main settings, such as home and work. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six months.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Association'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 tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. But their problems do have consequences: they may underperform at school, clash with their peers, or struggle to keep their job. They also have 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 definition recognizes that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are differences in the manner in which the disorder is exhibited 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health care professional. This may include a medical history review along with a medical interview, and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales completed both by family members and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some cases treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
People who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also remain in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medication is working in the way they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment for inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctors regularly, as certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.