ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. how to get an adult adhd diagnosis may ask to see old reports and speak to teachers, family members or your friends to find out about your childhood behavior.
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 school, home and at work. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult an GP. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialists, if required.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records, and performing a physical exam. You can also discuss 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 examination. The evaluation could include an explanation of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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. This includes looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults You may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications boost energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step towards managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) 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 an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. The medical history of your child, development and family history will be reviewed. Then, they will compare your child's behavior against the behavior of other children their age. They can use standard rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behaviors, like difficulty 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 a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet all of the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider 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 complete psychiatric examination may include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests, as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and check your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that could mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview with your child and family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may 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 make use of computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also request someone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy process and can take an hour or more. The clinician will then complete an assessment report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient.
It is extremely important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that the symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two main settings, such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present for at least six months.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria laid out 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 five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. However, their issues can have consequences: they could underperform at school, clash with peers or find it difficult to hold their job. 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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are differences between the manner in which 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes a medical history review, a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers or parents, or other adults who know the person well as well as standard ratings scales that are used by loved ones and teachers. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to affect functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children with inattentive ADHD may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.