10 Misconceptions Your Boss Shares Regarding ADHD Diagnoses
10 Misconceptions Your Boss Shares Regarding ADHD Diagnoses
Blog Article
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
The first step to managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.
The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They might want to look at old report cards and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about childhood behaviors.
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, home and work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, consult an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.
A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records, and performing an examination. You can also discuss your family's history of ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include an explanation of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical examination and laboratory tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. These include looking for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for a period of six months or more and determining if these symptoms are affecting your daily life at work, home and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, 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 your adult symptoms match the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing alertness and energy. They are available in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain and enhance mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, both professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD, must meet certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. The medical history of your child, development and family history will be examined. They will then evaluate your child's behavior with the behavior of other children of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things and 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 at least two environments, make your child perform poorly, and last for at least six months.
If your child does not 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 evaluation could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based and psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that may mimic ADHD symptoms. They might also request an extensive history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD, as the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, and also group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to get treatment is to find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurer or asking the 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 tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others use brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation.
During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also request someone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take an hour or more. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the findings with the patient.
It is extremely important to keep in mind that the definition check here of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD.
During the interview, the clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine if 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 requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors and having difficulty focusing on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak.
Prevention
Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. Their problems can have serious consequences. They might not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to hold jobs. They need to be treated, too.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD may still be occasionally used but it's not the most commonly used. The newer definition takes into account the fact that children may be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own.
While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are 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 means they are more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment.
A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This may include a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person well as well as standard ratings scales that are used by loved ones and educators. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to an extent that affects functioning.
It is crucial to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms.
Those diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain contact with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are working exactly as they should.
The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs, which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular check-ups with their healthcare providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.