ADHD Diagnoses It's Not As Hard As You Think
ADHD Diagnoses It's Not As Hard As You Think
Blog Article
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding an assessment is the first step in understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They may ask for old report cards and speak with teachers, relatives or friends about 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at work, school and home. Consult your GP when you or your child displays these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your medical history, and then performing physical examination. You may also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your family members, as well as a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, their symptoms are more likely to manifest differently as they grow older. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both.
If you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in extended-release forms to lessen side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive symptoms of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will ask questions regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be reviewed. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to that of other children their age. They can use standard rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things and interrupting others.
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 at least two settings that cause your child to function poorly and last for at least at least six months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional 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 complete psychiatric examination could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers for a detailed history and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They'll also be looking into whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as well as group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking the 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 tests, like continuous performances tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Some doctors also use brain scans such as 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 assessment.
During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor will also request information from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend much time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the here results with the patient.
It is extremely important 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 person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main environments, like home and work. For ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present for at least six months.
During the interview, a clinician will review the patient's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not 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 minimum three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes and having difficulty focusing on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.
Prevention
People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and can be easily ignored. However, their problems can have consequences: they may be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or struggle to hold an occupation. These people also need to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used, but it is not the most popular. The newer designation includes the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder manifests 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 means they are more likely to not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. This may include an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an knowledge of the individual, as well as normative ratings scales, both by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition like depression or anxiety. In some cases treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also remain in touch with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to seek regular check-ups with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.