The 15 Things Your Boss Wishes You'd Known About ADHD Diagnoses
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step in managing symptoms is to receive an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They may ask for old report cards and talk to family members, teachers or classmates about your childhood habits.
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 relationships and learning at school, home and work. If you or your child have these symptoms, talk to an GP. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required.
A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical documents and your health history, and performing a physical examination. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.
diagnose adhd and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look for inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms affect your life at home, at work, and in school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms are more likely to present 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 match the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A psychiatric assessment is performed by a licensed mental health specialist or 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 a diagnosis based on symptoms (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 evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. They will also discuss your child's growth, medical history and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior against those of children who are their age. They may use standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, like 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 occur in a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning and cause problems, and have been present for at least six (6) months.
If your child doesn't 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 and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis.
A thorough psychiatric evaluation may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests, as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They might also request a detailed history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They'll also look into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, and also group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to get treatment is to locate an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider 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 area. Some doctors employ computer-based tests, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulse control problems. Others utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also ask someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The clinician will also talk to nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend long periods of time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including home and work. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present at least six month.
During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric 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 such as difficulty paying attention particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
People with inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. Their problems can have serious consequences. They might not do well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find an occupation. These individuals must be treated 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 definition is based on the fact that children can be affected by inattention symptoms on their own.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder manifests itself between 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health care professional. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones and by teachers. These are helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to a degree that affects functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
People who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.