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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They may ask for old report cards and speak with parents, relatives or even friends about 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. These symptoms can cause issues with relationships and learning at school, home and at work. Consult your GP when you or your child exhibits these symptoms. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your health history and medical records, and performing physical examination. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They will look for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily routine at home, work and school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms will likely present 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 specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. These medications may be given in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During adhd adult diagnosis will inquire regarding your child's behavior in home, school and social settings. They will also review your child's growth medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children his age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure 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 occur in two or more settings that affect your child's behavior and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all the criteria 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 tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for a detailed history of the problem from parents and teachers and conduct 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, he or she might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you must first find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental health support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is a patient interview.
During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also ask anyone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. It is a long procedure that can last up to an hour. The physician will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the results of the exam with the patient.
It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms impact the person's everyday life. This means that the symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two major settings such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be diagnosed, the impairment must have been present for at minimum six months.
During the interview, a clinician will review the patient'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 Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of the five symptoms: trouble paying close attention to details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not do well in school, experience disagreements with their peers or struggle to hold a job. These people also need to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD can be occasionally used however it is not the most common. The newer name is based on the fact that children may only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
There are differences between the manner in which the disorder is manifested 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.
A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This involves a medical history review, a clinical interview, and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with a good understanding of the person, and normative rating scales, both by family members and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue such as 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 to expect in terms of the treatment and possible side effects. They should also remain in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are working in the way they should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children suffering from ADHD with inattentiveness can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to seek regular check-ups with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.