5 ADHD Diagnoses Myths You Should Stay Clear Of
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Getting a diagnosis is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation.
The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your past. They may ask to see old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or your friends to find out 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 learning and relationships at school, at home and work. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.
A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and performing physical examination. You can also discuss 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 an explanation of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They will look for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, work and school.
Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely to manifest 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. They are available as extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes employed to treat the inattention symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria 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 situations. They will also go over your child's developmental, medical history and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with the behavior of other children their age. They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behaviors, such as difficulty in 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 be present in at least two different settings, make your child perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child is not able to meet all of the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional will assign them 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 examination could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and check your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also request an extensive history of the problem from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is any history of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, and group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurance company or the local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors utilize brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an examination is a patient interview.
During an interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also seek information from someone who knows the patient well like siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient.
It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to that the symptoms affect the individual's daily activities. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main settings, such as home and work. To be eligible for ADHD to be recognized, the impairment must have been present at least six month.
During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone when they speak.
Prevention
People who have inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often overlooked. diagnosing adhd adults can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to find an occupation. These individuals require treatment, as well.
The term ADD is still used occasionally however the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name is based on the fact that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.
There are some differences in the way that the disorder is manifested by 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 them more likely to not be diagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health care professional. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers or parents, or other adults who know the person and also standard scales of rating used by loved ones and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning.
A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Anyone who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also remain in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should.
Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with inattentive ADHD can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular checks with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.