10 Websites To Help You Develop Your Knowledge About ADHD Diagnoses
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding a diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They might want to look at old report cards and speak with family members, teachers or classmates about childhood behavior.
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 cause issues with learning and relationships at school, home and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists when needed.
A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical documents and your health history, and then performing an exam. It is also possible to mention the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers as well as a physical exam, lab tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychiatrists and psychology 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 hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months and assess whether the symptoms impact your daily family life, at home, at work, and in school.
Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD however, their symptoms are likely to manifest differently as they get 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 guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce the effects of side effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination is conducted by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person with a 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 for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will ask questions regarding your child's behavior in home, school and social settings. The medical history of your child, development and family history will be examined. They will then compare your child's behavior with the behavior of other children their age. They can use standard ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems, such as inability to focus, forgetting about things, or interrupting other people.
There are peer relationships 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 environments that cause your child to perform poorly and last for at least at least six months.
If your child is not able to meet all of 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 and neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also assess your child's blood pressure, and perform a physical exam 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 and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, as well as group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to get treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors employ computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulse control problems. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important element of an assessment.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also request someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is essential to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the individual's daily activities. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major situations, including home and work. For ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present for at minimum six months.
During the interview, a clinician will go over the patient's medical and mental health history and determine if the person meets 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 details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list with preventions.
People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. But their problems do have consequences: they could not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or struggle to find their job. These people need to be treated, as well.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD can be occasionally used however it is not the most popular. The newer version takes into account that children may only suffer from inattentive symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are some variations in the way that 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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an understanding of the individual as well as normative rating scales completed both by family members and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to impact functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect in terms of their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also stay in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working in the way it should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.