ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They may ask to see old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to learn 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. The symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, work and at home. If you or your child have these symptoms, speak to an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records, and performing an examination. You can also discuss the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. 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 examination.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. These include looking for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely to 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 your adult symptoms meet the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in extended-release form to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be reviewed. They will then evaluate your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children of similar age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about things, or 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. They must occur in two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child isn't meeting the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could 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.
adhd diagnosis uk adults can include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders or head injuries that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD because the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step to receive treatment is to locate an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your 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 specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to determine problems with attention and impulse control. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most crucial component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor might also seek out anyone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is essential to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to that the symptoms affect the person's everyday life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main environments, like the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the person 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 minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD, and they are often ignored. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to find an occupation. 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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are variations in the way that the disorder presents itself 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an understanding of the individual as well as normative rating scales, both by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctors regularly, as some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.