ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to manage symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient 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 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 also cause problems with learning and relationships at school, home and at work. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, consult an GP. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.
A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical documents and your health history, and then performing an exam. You may also mention your family's history of ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment 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. They look for inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months and assess whether the symptoms interfere with your life, at home at work, or at school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms tend to 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults You may be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain 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 daily life, both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria 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 school, at home and in social environments. They will also discuss your child's developmental medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They may use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty 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 occur in two or more 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 all the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider 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 thorough psychiatric examination could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and your family. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling and group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, you must first find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company 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 region. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to determine issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During the interview, the therapist will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also seek information from someone who knows the patient very well like the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. The symptoms must be significantly affecting two main settings, such as at work and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person'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 5th Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are being talked to or daydreaming, or seeming distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and are often missed. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to keep jobs. They also have to be treated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time, but it is not the most commonly used. The newer designation takes into account the fact that children could suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
There are differences in the way the disorder is presented 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 less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well and also standard rating scales used by loved ones and teachers. These can assist in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that affects functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are working exactly as they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. It is important to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.