5 ADHD Diagnoses Myths You Should Avoid
5 ADHD Diagnoses Myths You Should Avoid
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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses
Finding a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments.
The expert will conduct an interview structured to review your past. They might request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to get information about your 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 interfere with relationships and learning at school, home and at work. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to an GP. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed.
A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and conducting an examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include an explanation of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. These include looking for an inattention pattern, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for 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 manner but their symptoms are more 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 your adult symptoms match the requirements for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, while improving alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Adults who present with inattention ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that may be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A psychiatric evaluation is conducted by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (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 an ADHD evaluation Your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. Your child's medical history and development history, as well as the family history will be reviewed. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are their age. They may use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty 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 more than one setting, affect your child's functioning and cause problems and be present for at least six months.
If your child does not meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider 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 assessment can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also assess your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also ask teachers and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and your family. They will also consider whether there is any family history of ADHD because the condition is highly heritable.
Treatment
If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling, and also group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to get treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or a 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. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an assessment.
During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor will also seek information from someone who knows the patient very well for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers, 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 then complete a report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient.
It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms impact the life of a person. This means that the symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present at least six months.
During the interview, a clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric 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 least three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's words when they speak.
The following is a list of preventatives.
People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive check here or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. However, their issues can have consequences: they could be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or have difficulty to keep their job. These individuals need to be treated, as well.
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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children may only have symptoms of inattention.
While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that 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 makes them more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This may include an assessment of medical history as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers or parents, or other adults who know the person well as well as standard rating scales used by loved ones and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.
Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should.
Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely beneficial for adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.