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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They may want to see old report cards and speak with teachers, relatives or 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 also interfere with learning and relationships at home, school and work. Speak to your GP when you or your child displays these symptoms. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and completing an examination. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise an explanation and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your family members, as well as a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms affect your life, at home at work, or at 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific, you may be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications help improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing energy and alertness. These medications can be administered in extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD must adhere to 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 an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. They will also go over your child's development as well as medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to that of other children his age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty in paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting others.
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 at least two settings that make your child perform poorly and last for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all the criteria 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 tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for a detailed history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They will take into consideration whether there is any family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you need to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to determine issues with impulse control and attention. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for any abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also ask for information from someone who knows the patient well for example, the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a very thorough process that could take an hour or more. The doctor will write a report, and discuss the results with the patient.
It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that symptoms must be significant in two important settings like at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they satisfy 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 requires at least three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
People who have inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often ignored. But their problems do result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with peers or have difficulty to keep an occupation. They also have to be treated.
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 newer designation includes the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While how to get an adult adhd diagnosis of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This involves an assessment of medical history along with a medical interview, and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an understanding of the individual and normative rating scales completed both by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They 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 drugs, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their healthcare providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.
