ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine 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 interfere with learning and relationships at school, at home and at work. Talk to your GP if you or your child is showing these symptoms. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed.
A GP can determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your medical history, and then performing an exam. You may also mention the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers along with a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They will look for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however, their symptoms will likely present 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 requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize adverse effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric assessment can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will ask questions regarding your child's behavior in home, school and social environments. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be reviewed. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior against those of children who are their age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty in paying attention, forgetting things and interrupting other children.
There are three presentations of
adhd private diagnosis - 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 that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider may 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 examination can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history and conduct a thorough interview of your child and your family. They'll also look into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to get treatment is to find an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurer or a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important element of an evaluation.
During an interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor will also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend much time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can take an hour or more. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two main settings, such as at work and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria set forth 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 these five symptom categories: trouble paying close attention to details and making careless mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on activities or tasks or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't
being diagnosed with add as an adult. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and can be easily ignored. However, their issues can result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with their peers, or struggle to keep their job. These people require treatment, too.
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 an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The new definition takes into account the fact that children
can gp diagnose adhd be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which 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 makes it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is required to establish an accurate
diagnosis of adult adhd. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones as well as teachers. These are useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A careful evaluation is also important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different medical or mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment for inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely efficient for both adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. It is essential to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since some patients may require adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.
