ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting a diagnosis is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They may ask for old reports and speak with parents, relatives or even friends about your childhood habits.
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 relationships and learning at home, school and work. Talk to your GP if you or your child is showing these signs. They can't formally diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and conducting a physical exam. You may also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers and a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric exam.
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 look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your life at home at work, at home, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way, but their symptoms are more likely to manifest differently as they grow 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 match the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications help improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to lessen the effects of side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could affect your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to be eligible for 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. They will also review your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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 a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning and cause problems, and have been 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They might also request an extensive history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They'll also look into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you must first find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to determine attention and impulse control problems. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most crucial component of an assessment.
During the interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also request someone who is very familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that could take an hour or more. The doctor will then write a report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact a person's life. This means that symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be recognized, the impairment must have been present for at minimum six months.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health 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 that include difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes and having difficulty focusing on work or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
Prevention
People who have inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. But their problems do result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or have difficulty to keep an occupation. They also have to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time however it is not the most common. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
There are some differences in the way that the disorder is presented 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 makes it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health care professional. This may include an assessment of medical history as well as a clinical interview, and physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with a good understanding of the person, as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and by teachers. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another medical or mental illness, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
how to diagnose adhd ADHD Diagnosis who are who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working as they should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.