ADHD Diagnoses Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
ADHD Diagnoses Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.
The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They may want to see old reports and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at school, at home and at work. Speak to your GP when you or your child displays these signs. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists when needed.
A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records and completing an examination. You may 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 consist of the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists 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 an inattention pattern or hyperactivity, which lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, at work or school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in extended-release form to reduce side effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could affect your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social settings. They will also go over your child's growth as well as medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to those of children who are his age. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, like 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 be present in two or more settings that affect your child's behavior and cause disruption, and have been present for at least six months.
If your child doesn't meet the criteria needed to be diagnosed 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 get more info presentation of the condition and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis.
A complete psychiatric examination could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based and neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your doctor will examine your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination to identify any medical issues that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They can also ask teachers and parents for a thorough history and conduct a thorough interview of your child and your family. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To start treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Some doctors also use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor will also ask for details from someone who knows the patient well for example, siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend much time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can take an hour or more. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect a person's life. This means that the person's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as home and work. 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 the person's medical and psychiatric history and determine whether or not the patient 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 must be backed by at least three of the five symptom categories: difficulty paying close attention to details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or seeming distracted.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and are often ignored. However, their issues can result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or struggle to find an occupation. These people need to be treated, as well.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time but it's not the most commonly used. The newer version is based on the fact that children may only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are differences in how 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 increases the likelihood that they will be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This involves an assessment of medical history, a clinical interview, and physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an understanding of the individual as well as normative rating scales completed both by loved ones and by teachers. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different medical or mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very beneficial for adults and children with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular checks with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.