A Provocative Rant About ADHD Diagnoses
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They might request old reports and talk to teachers, family members or your friends to find out about your childhood behaviors.
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 learning and relationships at school, work and home. Talk to your GP if you or your child exhibits these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your health history and medical records and completing an examination. You may also mention the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers along with a physical exam, lab tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can 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 an inattention pattern or hyperactivity, which lasts for a period of six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily routine at home, at work or school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely 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 are in line with the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to minimize the risk of the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your life, both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who has a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD, must meet certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition 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 settings. They will also review your child's growth medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They can use standard ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, such as inability to pay attention, ignoring things and 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 be present in more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet all the criteria to qualify 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 complete psychiatric examination may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for a detailed history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your child and family members. They'll also look into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD the person may need medication and/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). To start treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurance provider or asking a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Some doctors also use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant part of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview.
During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also ask for details from someone who knows the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend much time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can be a long time. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria established 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 is based on at least three of these five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of specifics and making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or activities, trouble listening when talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often dismissed. But their problems do have consequences: they could not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or have difficulty to hold an occupation. These individuals require treatment, as well.
The term ADD is still used occasionally however the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer definition recognizes that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom.
There are some differences in the way 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a medical professional. This includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and physical examination. adhd diagnostic is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well as well as standard ratings scales that are that are completed by family members and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also remain in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is functioning in the way it should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular checks with their healthcare providers because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.