ADHD Diagnoses It's Not As Hard As You Think
ADHD Diagnoses It's Not As Hard As You Think
Blog Article
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician) who is skilled in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They may ask to see old reports and speak to teachers, family members or your friends to find out 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. The symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and at home. Talk to your GP in the event that you or your child exhibits these symptoms. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.
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 examination. It is also possible to provide the history of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They will look for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, 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 your adult symptoms match the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of the effects of side effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
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 professional or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD must adhere to specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment, your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior at home, school and social settings. They will also review your child's developmental medical history and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior against the behavior of other children of similar age. They can use standard ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral problems, such as inability to focus, forgetting about things, or interrupting other people.
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 a variety of settings and affect your child's performance and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six (6) months.
If your child isn't meeting the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional 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 could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete a physical exam to identify any medical issues that may be related to ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also request an extensive history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting treatment is to locate an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company 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 tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also request information from someone who knows the patient very well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms interfere with a person's life. This read more means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major environments, like home and work. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present at minimum six months.
During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they are in compliance with 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 these five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to small specifics and making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or appearing distracted.
Prevention
People who have inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often missed. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to find an occupation. These people require treatment, as well.
The term ADD is still used infrequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version takes into account that children may only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder manifests 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 be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a medical professional. This includes a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person as well as standard scales of rating completed by loved ones and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some cases treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning in the way they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD with inattentiveness can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is important to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.