ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is designed to look at your past. They may want to see old report cards and speak with family members, teachers or classmates about 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at work, school and home. If you or your child have these symptoms, talk to a GP. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records and completing an examination. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your life at home, at work or school.
Adults may also be diagnosed with ADHD however, 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 typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing alertness and energy. They may be given as extended-release versions to minimize side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of symptoms which may be affecting both your professional and personal lives. A psychiatric assessment is performed by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms, such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also review your child's growth, medical history and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They may use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behaviors, such as difficulty in paying attention, ignoring things and 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 a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning and cause disruption, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all of the criteria needed to be diagnosed 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 assessment may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also request details about the problem from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurer or a local support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for impulsivity and attention issues. Others use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important component of an assessment.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also request someone who is very familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent or sibling, for information. The doctor will also interview teachers or 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 doctor will write a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including work and home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the clinician will go over the patient's medical and mental health 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: difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and can be easily ignored. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to hold jobs. These people also need to be treated with respect.
The term ADD is still used occasionally, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name takes into account that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are differences in how 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 examination by a health care professional. This may include an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and a physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well as well as standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.
adhd uk diagnosis is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treatment of other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate 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 keep in contact with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are working exactly as they should.
The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is important to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.