10 Misconceptions Your Boss Has About ADHD Diagnoses
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD assessments.
The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They may want to see old reports and talk to family members, teachers or classmates about childhood behavior.
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 relationships and learning at school, work and at home. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed.
A GP can determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and performing physical exam. You can also discuss the history of your family members with ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers, and physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. This includes looking for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily routine at home, work and school.
Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner but their symptoms are more likely 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 requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications help improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and 9326527 Effexor 9326527.xyz (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must follow specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.
During an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior at home, school and social settings. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be reviewed. They will then compare your child's behavior with those of children who are of similar age. They can use standard ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the inability to pay attention, ignoring things and 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 be present in at least two different settings and cause your child to function poorly and last for a minimum of six months.
If your child does not meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional 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 examination may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD since the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, and group therapy such as 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. You can start by calling your insurance provider or asking a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for attention and impulsivity problems. Some doctors also use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient.
During an interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also ask for information from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can be a long time. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the results with the patient.
It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to that the symptoms affect the person's everyday life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two main settings, such as the workplace and at home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six month.
During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying close attention to details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or activities, trouble listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or seeming distracted.
The following is a list of preventions.
People who have inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not do well in school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to keep jobs. These people also need to be treated.
The term ADD is still used frequently, 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 includes the fact that children may suffer from inattentive symptoms alone.
While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder presents 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 will be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.
A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This may include the clinical interview, medical history review and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have an understanding of the individual as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by family members and teachers. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that affects functioning.
It is important to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is functioning as it should.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease 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 seek regular check-ups with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.
