ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

Finding an assessment is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.

The expert will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. They may ask for old report cards and speak to teachers, relatives or friends about 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 relationships and learning at home, school and at work. Consult your GP when you or your child is showing these symptoms. They cannot diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.

A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting a physical exam. You may also mention the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers, as well as physical examination, lab tests, and a psychiatric examination.

Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer and assess whether the symptoms affect your life at home at work, at home, and at school.

Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 adult adhd diagnosis criteria-specific you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, as well as improving alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of side effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can you self diagnose adhd affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.

Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.

During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. They will also go over your child's growth medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, forgetting about 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 occur in more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six (6) months.

If your child is not able to meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed 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 thorough psychiatric assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request an extensive history of the issue from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will 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 and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, you need to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking your 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. Some doctors make use of 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 search for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most crucial component of an evaluation.

During the interview, the therapist will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that could be a long time. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the results with the patient.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that the symptoms have to be significant in two important settings like at work and at home. For ADHD to be recognized the disorder must have been present for at least six month.

During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Assocation'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 specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak.

Prevention

People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often overlooked. However, their issues can have consequences: they may not perform well at school, get adhd diagnosis into trouble with classmates or find it difficult to keep an occupation. They require treatment, too.

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 definition takes into account that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom.

While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are some variations in the way that the disorder manifests between 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 means they are more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.

A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. This may include an examination of the medical history as well as a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an understanding of the person, as well as normative ratings scales completed both by loved ones and by educators. These can be 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 caused by another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.

People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what how is adult adhd diagnosed expected of the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also keep in touch with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.

Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatment for inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive may benefit from other treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctors regularly, as certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.