ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They might request old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to get information 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 also cause problems with learning and relationships at work, school and home. Talk to your GP if you or your child displays these symptoms. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your health history and medical records, and performing an examination. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include an explanation and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers, as well as physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They will look for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily routine at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms are more likely to manifest 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 specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These drugs boost energy and alertness, improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
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 doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. They will also go over your child's growth, medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty 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 occur in more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional will assign them 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and examine your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling as also group therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting 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 company or a local support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others use brain scans, for instance 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 physician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor will also ask for details from someone who knows the patient very well like siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main situations, including the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors and having difficulty focusing on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. 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. These people need to be treated, 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 newer definition includes the fact that children could suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
There are differences in the way the disorder is presented 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 makes it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes an examination of the medical history, a clinical interview, and physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an understanding of the person, as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones and by teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
A thorough examination is essential to determine if symptoms are due to another medical or mental illness like depression or anxiety. In some cases treatment of other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. adult adhd diagnosis uk should also remain in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, including cognitive behavior therapy and parent training, can be very beneficial for adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. It is important to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may need adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.