ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

The first step in managing symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.

The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They might request old reports, and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to learn about your 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, work and home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, speak to 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 help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and completing physical examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include an explanation of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical examination and laboratory tests.

Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. This includes looking for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity, which lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, work and school.

Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way, but their symptoms are more likely to present 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 your adult diagnosis of adhd symptoms match the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to reduce the effects of side effects. Adults with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of symptoms which may affect your personal and professional life. A psychiatric evaluation can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must follow certain 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 inquire about your child's behavior in home, school and social environments. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be examined. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to those of children who are of similar age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior issues, such as the inability to pay attention, forgetting about things, and interrupting others.

There are three presentations of ADHD - predominately inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined. To be getting diagnosed with adhd 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, cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.

If your child isn't meeting 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 assessment can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to identify any medical issues that may be related to ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request an extensive history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD because the condition is highly genetically inherited.

Treatment

If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require treatment or medication for their behavior. 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 receive treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an evaluation.

During the interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also seek details from someone who knows the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can be a long time. The physician will then write an assessment report and discuss the results of the assessment with the patient.

It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main settings, such as work and 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 clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of these five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to small specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on activities or tasks, trouble listening when talking to others and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted.

Prevention

Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they can be easily ignored. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find an occupation. These individuals require treatment, too.

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 commonly used. The newer definition is based on the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.

There are some differences in the manner in which the disorder is exhibited 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.

A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This involves a medical history review along with a medical interview, and physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well and also standard ratings scales that are used by loved ones and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.

A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition like depression or local anxiety. In some cases, treating these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.

People who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are working exactly as they should.

Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD with inattentiveness may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health care providers, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.