Getting a Diagnosis for ADHD
Finding a diagnosis for ADHD is the first step in managing symptoms that can affect your school, work and social relationships. iampsychiatry.com can refer you to an ADHD specialist who is able to conduct the test.
It is important to speak with those who know you well, like your friends, co-workers and past teachers or religious leaders. Your evaluator may also require details regarding your health issues in environments outside of the office, such as at home or at work.
Symptoms
It can be difficult to determine ADHD in a child or an adult who has had symptoms for a long time. To qualify for an ADHD diagnosis, a person must show six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity that significantly hinder everyday functioning, such as making a mistake at work or at school, or forgetting important items. These symptoms must have started in childhood, before age 12. They cannot be caused by a different disorder, like depression or anxiety.
Your health care provider will conduct a physical exam and review your or your child's mental, family and medical health history. They will also look at the way your child or you behaves in different settings such as at home or at school. They may require you to talk to others about your or child's behavior, including friends, relatives teachers, coaches, and friends.
A thorough assessment can reveal if ADHD is the reason behind problems for a person and help determine the kind of medication that may be most effective. For instance, if ADHD symptoms are mostly due to impulsivity, they might need medications that affect the dopamine system. They may also have to treat health issues that are underlying such as anxiety or depression.
During the interview, you or your child's doctor will ask about your symptoms and the impact they have on your life, and how long they have been present. They will also ask about your or your child's medical history as well as behavioral history. They will ask if you or your children have a an ancestral history of ADHD. It is very heritable.
If you or your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, a mental health professional can offer support and guidance as you adjust to living with the condition. Therapy can give you the chance to explore your the child's feelings, such as guilt, shame and frustration, about how the condition has affected your or their lives. Therapy can also help you develop better ways to manage the disorder that affects your child's or your daily life.
Diagnosis
To allow ADHD to be diagnosed the symptoms must satisfy specific requirements. These symptoms are outlined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). People with ADHD often have trouble concentrating at school or work. They also may have trouble maintaining friendships or relationships because of their inattentive and unpredictable behavior.
Screening for ADHD requires an interview with a professional, either an a psychiatrist or a doctor health professional. The patient could be asked to bring reports cards from childhood or any other documentation that can help him or her remember problems from earlier years. The specialist will also examine the person's past and current family medical, social, and psychiatric history.
It's important to note that a lot of people don't show symptoms of ADHD or they don't have enough symptoms to be able to be diagnosed with the condition. Most healthy children exhibit inattentive and hyperactive behaviors at times. Children with young attention spans and often cannot stick with a single activity for a long time. Even teens or older children may find it difficult to stay focused on something boring or boring for long.
If you have a child with these kinds of behaviors, it's essential to speak with your pediatrician or a doctor who specializes in treating behavioral and developmental disorders. You can ask friends and family for recommendations or search the internet for specialists who specialize in ADHD evaluations. It is also important to be aware that your child may be suffering from a sleep disorder or other physical illness which could trigger similar symptoms.
It is essential to tell the truth during your interview with your health care professional. The health care provider will need to speak with an ex-teacher or someone close to you when you were an infant. He or she will also look into the person's work and social life in order to determine how the symptoms affect them. The doctor will evaluate the person and determine if he/she she has ADHD. If the person does have ADHD, the specialist will recommend a treatment program.
Treatment
It is recommended to first consult your doctor if you think that you might have ADHD. They will refer you to a mental healthcare professional who will evaluate your condition and determine an assessment. The mental health professional will inquire about the symptoms you've experienced, and will also review your family and medical history. They'll also employ standard behavior rating scales and ADHD symptoms checklists. They may also ask your permission to speak with your family members as well as friends and colleagues to gain a better understanding of how you perform in different contexts and environments. They might also provide you with tests that are neuropsychological or psychological to measure working memory executive function (ability to plan and make decisions), visual and spatial abilities, as well as reasoning skills.
During an evaluation, your doctor will determine the extent to which you have ADHD symptoms and whether they are predominately inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined. The doctor will also determine the time when symptoms first started to manifest and if they have been present since childhood.
For adults and older adults, the American Psychiatric Association provides clinical guidelines in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These criteria indicate you must exhibit at least five signs of ADHD to be diagnosed.
Your doctor will prescribe medication to manage your symptoms. There are stimulant and not-stimulant medications. It may take several attempts to find one that is suitable for you. Tell your doctor if any other medications are taking place especially for heart issues or depression. These drugs may interact with certain ADHD medications. Herbal supplements and complementary health practices can be used to treat ADHD. These approaches are not based on scientific evidence since they haven't been proved to be effective in treating ADHD symptoms.
Counseling
There is no one test for diagnosing ADHD. However an extensive assessment will include standardized tests and interviews. Mental health professionals like social workers and psychologists or advanced practice nurses, are the best equipped to identify ADHD because they are aware of how it affects various aspects of a person's life. They can also rule out other conditions that may trigger similar symptoms. During an assessment, it is crucial that the patient discuss their symptoms without embarrassment. They should also be prepared to answer questions from the healthcare professional, such as those regarding their childhood behaviors and school experiences. Therapists may ask permission to speak with spouses, family members and/or friends to gather additional information on the individual's condition and their impact on others.
ADHD can cause adults to forget appointments, fail to meet deadlines and make impulsive decisions that can irritate even the most tolerant of partners, coworkers and family members. Therapy that addresses these issues can help them understand how to monitor their own behavior and devise strategies to control their impulses and improve their the organization skills. They can also benefit from classes that teach effective techniques for resolving conflicts and problem-solving as well as couples' therapy or other programs that help improve relationships.
Counseling services for individuals with ADHD are offered in community centers as well as private practices and special clinics. Some offer group therapy, and others are run by licensed therapists. Some provide support groups for parents of children with ADHD. They also provide information about the disorder, its treatment options, and other resources.
Counseling for ADHD is often most effective when it's combined with medication and behavior therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is taught by a therapist, can help a person with ADHD recognize and alter the negative thinking patterns contributing to their symptoms. Counseling can help a person who is constantly concerned about not finishing a task in time to learn how to reward themselves for completing the task. They can also develop self-management systems for routine activities such as setting alarms to wake up, putting schoolbags and clothes in the same spot each morning, and making a daily schedule.