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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They may ask to see old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to get information about your 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 interfere with learning and relationships at home, school and work. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult an GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required.
A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records, and performing physical examination. You can also discuss the history of your family members with ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your family members, and physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. These include looking for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily routine at work, home and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD however, 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 meet the requirements for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be conducted by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. They will also review your child's development medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior with the behaviors of other children who are their age. They may use standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, forgetting about things, and interrupting others.
There are Iam Psychiatry 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 a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six (6) months.
If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider may diagnose them with 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 computer-based cognitive and psychological tests and psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to rule out medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and family. They will consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling, and group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance company or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer tests, like continuous performances tests, to check for problems with attention and impulse control. Others use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also request someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is extremely important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main settings, such as the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Association's 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 particulars, making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
People who have inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and are often ignored. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to keep a job. These people must be treated as well.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD may still be used from time to time however it is not the most popular. The newer name recognizes that children may only have symptoms of inattention.
There are differences between the way the disorder is exhibited 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 makes them more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include an assessment of medical history, a clinical interview and a physical exam. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones as well as teachers. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also keep in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Adults and children with ADHD with inattentiveness may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to seek regular checks with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.