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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They may request old reports and speak to your family members, teachers or friends to get information 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. The symptoms also may interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and home. Speak to your GP when you or your child displays these symptoms. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records, and performing physical examination. You may also mention the history of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers, and physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms affect your family life, at home at work, at home, and at school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are 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 your adult symptoms match the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric evaluation can be conducted by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms, such as ADHD must follow specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in home, school and social settings. They will also discuss your child's developmental as well as medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as 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. diagnosed with adhd must be present in at least two different settings that cause your child to function poorly, and last for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet the criteria 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also ask teachers and parents for a thorough history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and family members. They'll also look into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to receive treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurer or asking the local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also request someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete an assessment report and discuss the results of the assessment with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that the symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on activities or tasks and difficulty listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well in school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to keep jobs. These people also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used frequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The new definition includes the fact that children could be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
There are differences between the manner in which 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 increases the likelihood that they will not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This includes an assessment of medical history, a clinical interview and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have an understanding of the person, and normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue such as anxiety or depression. In some cases the treatment of these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning in the way it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children suffering from ADHD with inattentiveness can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.
