The 10 Scariest Things About ADHD Diagnoses
The 10 Scariest Things About ADHD Diagnoses
Blog Article
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an interview that is designed to look at your past. They may request old reports and speak to family members, teachers or friends to get information 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at school, home and work. If you or your child have these symptoms, speak to a GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if needed.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting physical examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD however, the symptoms of ADHD will likely 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of side effects. Adults with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards taking control of symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with 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 an ADHD assessment, your healthcare provider will ask questions regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. They will also discuss your child's development, medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behavior of other children their age. They can use standard rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty in 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 a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning 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 and diagnosing adhd not give them an official ADHD diagnosis.
A comprehensive psychiatric assessment could include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests and psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also ask for details about the issue from teachers and caregivers and perform a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as well as group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To begin treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by 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 region. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an evaluation.
During an interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor will also ask for information from someone who knows the patient very well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the examination with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. The symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work 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 doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they satisfy 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 is based on at least three of these five symptom categories: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on work or activities and difficulty listening when talking to others and daydreaming or seeming distracted.
Prevention
People with inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and are often overlooked. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or struggle to hold an occupation. They also have to be treated.
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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version recognizes that children can have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are some distinct ways in which 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 makes them more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers or parents, or other adults who know the patient well and also standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and educators. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function.
It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms.
People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are working in the way they should.
Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition as well. It is crucial 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 other treatment options.