ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

The first step to manage symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.

The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They may want to see old reports and speak with family members, teachers or classmates about childhood behaviors.

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 cause problems with relationships and learning at school, at home and at work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, consult an GP. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialists, if required.

A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records and completing physical examination. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of a description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.

Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and assess whether the symptoms interfere with your life at home at work, or in school.

Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms tend 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 your adult symptoms meet the criteria 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 improve concentration and focus, as well as improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration.

Diagnosis

Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.

During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. They will also discuss your child's growth as well as medical history and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They can employ standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about 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 more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six (6) months.

If your child does not meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also request an extensive history of the issue from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited.

Treatment

If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, you need to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurer or a local mental support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an examination is an interview with the patient.

During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also request someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for information. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.

It is essential to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including work and 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 mental health 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 must be supported by at least three of these five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to small details and making careless mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or activities and difficulty listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing distracted.

Prevention

People with inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not do well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to hold an occupation. These people need to be treated, as well.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time however it is not the most commonly used. The newer definition is based on the fact that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.

There are differences in the manner in which the disorder is manifested 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 makes it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.

A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This may include an assessment of medical history along with a medical interview, and physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard scales of rating used by loved ones and teachers. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.

It is crucial to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are related to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.

Anyone diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also stay contact with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning in the add diagnosis adult way they should.

Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health care providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.