ADHD Diagnoses Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who specializes in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your history. They may ask to see old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn about your childhood behaviors.
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 cause issues with relationships and learning at home, school and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your medical history, and conducting a physical examination. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could include the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests.
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 examine for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your life at home, at work, and in school.
Adults can 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 your adult symptoms match the guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, improving concentration and focus. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to lessen the effects of side effects. Adults with inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of symptoms which may affect your personal and professional life. A psychiatric assessment can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in home, school and social settings. They will also review your child's development medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, 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 occur in two or more settings, affect your child's functioning and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet all of the criteria to qualify 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 may include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for details about the problem from parents and teachers and perform a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as also 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 contacting your insurer or a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors employ computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to test for issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During the interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also seek out anyone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete a report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major environments, like the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, a 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 requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
The following is a list of preventions.
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD, and they are often missed. However, their issues can have consequences: they could not perform well at school, get into trouble with their peers, or struggle to hold an occupation. These individuals need to be treated, too.
diagnosing adhd in adults is still used frequently however, the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer designation includes the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
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 increases the likelihood that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health care professional. This includes an assessment of medical history, a clinical interview, and physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well and also standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and teachers. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A careful evaluation is also crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible side effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment for inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training can be extremely effective for children and adults who suffer from this condition, too. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.