ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

Making an assessment is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.

The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may want to see old report cards and speak with family members, teachers or classmates about 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. The symptoms also may interfere with relationships and learning at school, work and at home. Speak 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 refer you to specialists if needed.

A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and completing physical examination. You may also provide the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers, as well as physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination.

Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They will look for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for six months or more and determining if these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, at work or school.

Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way, but their symptoms are more likely 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 match the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in extended-release versions to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect 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 daily life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric assessment is conducted by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person with a symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD, must meet specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD.

During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. The medical history of your child and development history, as well as the family history will be studied. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, forgetting about 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 and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six months.

If your child does not meet all 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 could include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests, as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also request a detailed history of the issue from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary.

Treatment

If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with get more info medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you must first locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance provider 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 region. Some doctors use computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to test for problems with attention and impulse control. Other doctors utilize brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an evaluation.

During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The doctor will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy process and can be a long time. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.

It is vital to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as home and work. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.

During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the patient is in compliance with 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 least three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak.

Prevention

Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. But their problems do result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with peers or struggle to hold their job. They also have to be treated with respect.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used but it's not the most commonly used. The newer definition is based on the fact that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom.

There are differences in the way the disorder is presented by 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 assessment by a health professional. This involves an examination of the medical history along with a medical interview, and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have an understanding of the individual as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and by educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.

A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.

People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also stay contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.

The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition as well. It is crucial to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.