ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses

Making an assessment is the first step to understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family physicians) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations.

The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They may ask to see old reports and speak to family members, teachers or friends to learn about your childhood habits.

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 work, school and at home. Talk to your GP if you or your child displays these signs. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if necessary.

A GP can determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical records and your medical history, and performing physical exam. You may also mention the history of ADHD in your family 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 a description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests.

Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms impact your daily life, at home at work, or at school.

Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way, 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults You may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. They can be prescribed in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor alter neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of symptoms which may be affecting both your personal and professional life. A psychiatric evaluation is performed by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD.

During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also go over your child's development, medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting 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 and cause your child to function poorly, and last for at least six months.

If your child is not able to meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional will assign them an 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 may include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and complete a physical exam to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request details about the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. diagnosing adhd in adults will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary.

Treatment

If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to receive treatment is to find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking the local mental health support group like 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, like continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an evaluation is a patient interview.

During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also request details from someone who knows the patient very well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient.

It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two main settings, such as at work and at home. For ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present for at least six month.

During the interview, a clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine whether or not the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set 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 supported by at least three of these five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making careless mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities and difficulty listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted.

The following is a list of preventions.

In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and are often ignored. But their problems do have consequences: they may not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or find it difficult to find a job. They must be treated too.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used, but it is not the most common. The newer name takes into account that children may only have symptoms of inattention.

There are differences between the way that the disorder is presented by 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 makes it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment.

A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who have an understanding of the individual and normative rating scales that are completed by family members and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that affects functioning.

It is important to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to another psychiatric or medical issue such as depression or anxiety. In some instances treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms.

People who are who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working exactly as it should.


Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely efficient for both adults and children with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.