ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

Finding an assessment is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD assessments.

The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They might want to look at old reports and speak to parents, relatives or even 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 school, work and home. Consult your GP if you or your child is showing these signs. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.

A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and conducting an examination. It is also possible to provide the history of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers as well as physical examination, lab 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. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more, and evaluate whether these symptoms interfere with your life, at home at work, at home, and in school.

Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD, but 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These drugs improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. These medications may be given in extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and improve focus and mood.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal lives. A psychiatric assessment can be performed by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who diagnosis adhd has a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.

During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. The medical history of your child and development history, as well as the family history will be examined. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to that of other children his age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behaviors, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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, make your child perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.

If your child is not able to meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed 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 assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to rule out any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also ask for an extensive history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and perform a thorough interview with your child and family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.

Treatment

If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, it is necessary to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors employ computer-based tests, like continuous performances tests, to test for problems with attention and impulse control. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important component of an evaluation.

During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also ask someone who is very familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for information. The clinician will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.

It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by the extent to which the symptoms affect the life of a person. This means that the symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two main settings, such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present at least six months.

During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of the five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to small details and making careless mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on work or activities and difficulty listening when talking to others and daydreaming or seeming distracted.

Prevention

People with inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. But their problems do have consequences: they may underperform at school, clash with their peers, or have difficulty to hold an occupation. These individuals must be treated as well.

The term ADD is still used occasionally, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The new definition is based on the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.

While many of the symptoms are common to all instances, there are differences in how to get diagnosed with adult add (web page) the disorder presents itself 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.

A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This includes the clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard rating scales completed by loved ones and educators. These are helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to an extent that impacts the functioning.

A thorough examination is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition such as depression or anxiety. In some cases treatment of other disorders can help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.

Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also stay in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.

The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.