ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

Making a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD assessments and diagnoses.

The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may ask for old reports and talk to family members, teachers or classmates about your childhood habits.

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 interfere with learning and relationships at school, home and work. Talk to your GP if you or your child is showing these symptoms. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed.

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

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. This includes looking for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily routine at work, home and school.

Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, their symptoms are more likely 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 guidelines for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus.

Diagnosis

Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.

During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be reviewed. They will then assess your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are their age. They could use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, 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 occur in two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause problems and be present for at least six (6) months.

If your child isn't meeting the requirements 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that can be similar to ADHD symptoms. They might also request a detailed history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable.

Treatment

If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD the person may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as well as group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To begin treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance company or a local 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 impulsivity and attention issues. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for any abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.

During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also ask for information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well for example, siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend long periods of time with the patient. more info This is a thorough process that could take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.

It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact a person's life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main environments, like the workplace and at home. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present at least six months.

During the interview, the doctor will go over the patient's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the patient is in compliance with the diagnostic criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying close attention to details and making careless mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on work or activities and difficulty listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing distracted.

Prevention

People with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and can be easily missed. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience disagreements with their peers or struggle to hold a job. They require treatment, too.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used however it is not the most popular. The newer definition recognizes that children can suffer from inattentive symptom.

There are some differences in the manner in which the disorder is presented by 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 go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.

A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes a medical history review, a clinical interview and a physical exam. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have a good knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales completed both by loved ones and by educators. These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function.

A thorough evaluation is crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.

People who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning in the way it should.

Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training, can be very beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.