ADHD Diagnoses: What's The Only Thing Nobody Has Discussed
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. getting diagnosed with adhd may ask to see old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn about your 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 interfere with learning and relationships at school, home and at work. Talk to your GP when you or your child is showing these signs. They cannot 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, reviewing your health history and medical records, and performing a physical exam. You may also discuss the background of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include an explanation of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your life, at home at work, or at school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms tend 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 are in line with the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These drugs improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize side effects. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric examination is conducted by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD someone with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must follow certain criteria 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 the home, school and social environments. They will also discuss your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They could use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as difficulty in paying attention, forgetting things or interrupting other children.
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 and affect your child's performance and cause problems and be present for at least six (6) months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment could include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They will also consider whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling, as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting 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. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant part of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During an interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend much time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the life of a person. This means that the symptoms must be significant in two important settings like at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history, and determine whether or not the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the following five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention particulars, making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They aren't as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often dismissed. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not do well in school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to keep an occupation. These individuals also need to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD can be used from time to time but it's not the most popular. The newer definition recognizes that children might only have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some variations in the way that the disorder presents itself 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 evaluation by a health care professional. This involves a medical history review along with a medical interview, and a physical exam. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good understanding of the individual as well as normative rating scales, both by loved ones and by educators. These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that impacts the functioning.
A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like 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 to expect in terms of their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also remain in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and parent training are very efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. It is crucial to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctors regularly, as some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.