10 Misleading Answers To Common ADHD Diagnoses Questions: Do You Know Which Ones?
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to obtain a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an interview structured to examine your past. They might request old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or your friends to find out about your childhood behavior.
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. These symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, at home and work. Consult your GP in the event that you or your child exhibits these signs. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your health history, and then performing a physical examination. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers as well as physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for six months or longer and assess whether the symptoms impact your daily life at home at work, or in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms tend 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 meet the guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. They may be given in extended-release forms to lessen the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person who is diagnosed with a diagnosis based on symptoms, such as ADHD must follow certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be studied. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They can use standard rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behavioral problems such as 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 occur in two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis 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 thorough psychiatric evaluation can include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and conduct a physical exam to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They might also request an extensive history of the problem from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will take into consideration whether there is any family history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or a local support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors utilize brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an examination is an interview with the patient.
During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor might also request anyone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent or sibling, for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD depends on the extent to which the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major situations, including work and home. The impairment must be 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 psychiatric histories and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Association's 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 such as difficulty paying attention specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
People who have inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. However, their problems can have consequences: they may be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with classmates or struggle to keep their job. These individuals also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used infrequently, 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 name is based on the fact that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
While adhd diagnose of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some distinct ways in which 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 makes it more likely that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes a medical history review as well as a clinical interview, and physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers or parents, or other adults who know the patient well and also standard ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A careful evaluation is also crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also remain in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medication is working 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 with inattentiveness can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health care providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.