ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.

The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They might request old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or your friends to find out about your 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 also interfere with relationships and learning at school, at home and work. Consult your GP when you or your child is showing these symptoms. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.

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 an examination. You may also provide the background of ADHD in your family to help with the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise a description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers, as well as physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation.

Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer and assess whether the symptoms impact your daily life, at home, at work, and in school.

Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms are more likely 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific, you may be prescribed medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. They may be given in extended-release forms to lessen side effects. Adults with 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 in managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life professionally and personally. A psychiatric evaluation can be performed by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must follow certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association.

During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also discuss your child's developmental medical and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting other children.

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 more than one setting that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months.

If your child does not meet 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 website and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis.

A comprehensive psychiatric assessment could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination of the body to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They might also request an extensive history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited.

Treatment

If someone has been identified as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or the local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an examination is a patient interview.

During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who knows the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that could take an hour or more. 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 based on the extent to which the symptoms affect a person's life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as the workplace and at home. For ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present for at least six month.

During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria laid out by the American Psychiatric Assocation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.

Prevention

People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to find a job. They also have to be treated with respect.

The term ADD is still used infrequently however, the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer definition is based on the fact that children can be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.

There are some differences in the way the disorder is presented 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 increases the likelihood that they will be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.

A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with an understanding of the person, and normative rating scales, both by loved ones as well as educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning.

A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.

People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible side effects. They should also keep in touch with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.

Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctors regularly, as some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.