ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

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

The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They may request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to get information about your 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 interfere with relationships and learning at school, at home and work. If you or your child have these symptoms, speak to an GP. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed.

A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records, and performing a physical exam. You may also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.

Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining if these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, work and school.

Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, 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 requirements for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.

Diagnosis

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

During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in the home, school and social environments. Your child's medical history and development history, as well as the family history will be reviewed. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with the behavior of other children their age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, ignoring 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, affect your child's functioning and cause disruption and be present for at least six (6) months.

If your child does not meet all of the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider will assign them an 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will examine your child's blood pressure and complete a physical exam to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the problem from parents and teachers and perform a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They'll also look into whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly heritable.

Treatment

If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, you need to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurance company or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to check for attention and impulse control problems. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts here agree that the patient's interview is the most important element of an assessment.

During the interview, the therapist will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also request 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 adults that spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a very thorough process that could be a long time. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.

It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main environments, like the workplace and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD.

During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Society's 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 such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors and having difficulty focusing on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak.

The following is a list with preventions.

People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. However, their problems can have consequences: they may underperform at school, clash with their peers, or find it difficult to keep an occupation. These people need to be treated, too.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD can be used from time to time but it's not the most common. The newer version takes into account that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.

While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder manifests 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 makes it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.

An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health professional. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well and also standard rating scales completed by loved ones and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning.

It is important to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some instances treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.

Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also remain in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning in the way it should.

The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely efficient for both adults and children with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular checks with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.