ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your history. They may ask to see old reports and speak to family members, teachers or your friends to find out about your childhood habits.
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 cause issues with learning and relationships at school, at home and at work. Speak to your GP when you or your child is showing these symptoms. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialists, if required.
A GP can determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical documents and your health history, and then performing physical examination. You can also provide the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They will look for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD, but 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 your adult symptoms are in line with the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They can be prescribed in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of the symptoms that could affect your professional and personal life. A psychiatric evaluation is conducted by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. The medical history of your child, development and family history will be studied. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior problems, like inability to pay attention, forgetting about things and interrupting other people.
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 a variety of settings that affect your child's behavior and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet all of the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional 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 conduct a physical exam to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family. They will also consider whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. how to get an adhd diagnosis uk to receive treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for impulsivity and attention issues. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can last up to an hour. The physician will then write an assessment report and discuss the findings of the exam with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including home and work. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed, the impairment must have been present for at minimum six months.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they are in compliance with 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 must be backed by at least three of these five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to small details and making careless mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities and difficulty listening when talking to others and daydreaming or seeming distracted.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and can be easily missed. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not do well in school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to keep an occupation. 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 definition takes into account that children may only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are differences in how the disorder manifests 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This involves an examination of the medical history as well as a clinical interview, and physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative ratings scales completed both by family members and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different medical or mental illness like depression or anxiety. In some instances treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also remain in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training, can be very effective for children and adults who suffer from this condition, too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their healthcare providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.