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ADHD Assessment - What Happens When a Doctor Diagnoses ADHD?
To determine an ADHD diagnosis, doctors review your symptoms to determine whether they match the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-V). Most professionals will conduct a clinical interview that is based on one or more ADHD rating scales.
Find an expert who is a specialist in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by your insurance. Contact an organization that supports local residents for a list of specialists.
Signs and symptoms
If your pediatrician is evaluating you for ADHD He or she will ask questions about your symptoms and past history. They may also examine you to determine the physical basis of your disorder. This could be a vision problem, hearing loss, or illness.
ADHD is characterized by difficulties staying focused or paying attention. This is often the cause of making mistakes that are not made or failing to complete work (e.g. schoolwork, schoolwork or chores). Children and teens with ADHD have difficulty listening to others, and may be distracted or drowsy. For adults suffering from ADHD problems, these can result in problems at work or home and in relationships.
Another ADHD symptom is the inability to sit or be still for long periods of time. People who suffer from ADHD are prone to squirm, fidget or jog while waiting for others or in an event. They also may talk too much or interrupt others frequently.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5TR(tm), is used by doctors to establish their diagnoses. They assess whether a person has at least six traits of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity to determine what type of ADHD they have.
Your pediatrician will examine your behavior in various situations like at school or in other social situations. He or she will interview you and your family members, teachers and other caregivers about your behavior. adhd assessments will also employ checklists and scales for ADHD symptoms.
Your child could also undergo a physical exam or take tests for blood to rule out other medical issues, like an eye loss, hearing loss, or thyroid issue that can cause similar symptoms. A mental health professional can also examine your child's ability to focus on the task at hand, follow directions and complete tasks.
Neuropsychological tests are not used to diagnose ADHD but they may be useful in certain circumstances. It is the process of measuring brain activity, including beta waves with an EEG scan or magnetic resonance image (MRI). Some studies suggest that individuals suffering from ADHD have less beta wave activity in the frontal lobes of their brains, and that they generate too many theta waves.
Diagnosis
A doctor can determine ADHD by examining the patient's symptoms, his or her family history and the results of various assessment and screening tools. These include rating scales, continuous performance tests and neuropsychological testing batteries (Table I). For each instrument it is crucial to know its sensitivity and specificity - the probability that the test correctly identifies those suffering from the disorder and those who don't.
The first step in evaluating ADHD is to conduct an interview with the patient. This is a one to two-hour session with the clinician which includes questions regarding the person's symptoms and the experience with them. A specialist can also seek the assistance of teachers and other caregivers to gather information, particularly when diagnosing children. The clinician will review the medical and school records as well as ask the child or teen to complete questionnaires completed by parents and educators.
For adults being assessed for ADHD The doctor may also request school records from the past to see if the person's symptoms began in the early years of childhood. He or she might also talk to siblings, spouses, and other friends of the individual about their experiences. A specialist might want to interview people who know the person well including former teachers or religious leaders.
For an adult or adolescent be diagnosed with ADHD the person must demonstrate several of the symptoms in a variety of environments, including school, home and work. These symptoms must interfere in the person's ability to function and cannot be explained by any other medical condition. For adolescents the symptoms should have been consistent and present since childhood. Adults must have at least five ongoing symptoms for a minimum of 6 months. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) contains criteria for diagnosing the disorder.
Treatment
If your child or adult has been diagnosed with ADHD There are a variety of treatment options. The treatments could include medication, behavior therapy or a combination of both. Your doctor and you will determine what is best for you based on how many symptoms your child has and the length of time they've been having them. Your doctor will also rule out other issues that could be causing symptoms, including mental health issues like anxiety and depression or medical conditions like thyroid disorders.
If you or your child is struggling in school, it's crucial to speak to an educator about the issue. Teachers often spot ADHD symptoms in children and help determine if the issues are due to ADHD or a different cause.
Your assessment will likely consist of a clinical interview, completion of ADHD symptoms checklists, as well as other questionnaires, psychological tests, medical history and details about relatives and friends. It is essential to provide as much information regarding the issues you or your child is experiencing as you are able to. This will enable your physician to be aware of the complexity of your situation and make an accurate diagnosis.
Adults and teenagers undergo the same process of assessment, but their symptoms will be assessed differently because they are usually related to their work and other pursuits. Along with a thorough description of the difficulties and the underlying issues, your psychiatrist or psychologist will want to know how these issues impact your life. For example, do the problems interfere with your work or social relationships? If yes, how much? Your doctor will make use of this information to determine whether your symptoms are mild, moderate or severe.
Psychosocial treatments for adults with ADHD are usually more effective than prescription medications. These treatments can help you and your family learn more effective ways to manage your ADHD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example can help you overcome negative thoughts and manage your emotions. Group and family therapy can help you develop new strategies and skills that can improve your relationship with your spouse or partner. For children and adolescents it is recommended to conduct a behavior study prior to attempting any medication. This includes parent training in behavior management for children from the age of 6 and other types of training and therapy for older teens and adults.
Follow-up
As with any diagnostic procedure, the results of an adhd evaluation should be reviewed by a qualified clinician. This ensures the person receives the correct treatment for their condition. This reduces the possibility of false-positive results, when a test indicates a person has ADHD when they don't. This could happen when the test used for an assessment isn't validated or the examiner does not have sufficient experience to interpret the results correctly.
The doctor will take into consideration the beginning and duration of the symptoms, as well as how they compare with the mental age estimate (i.e. is the patient's behavior disproportionately 'below' or above their age). They will also look at the duration and onset of the symptoms, as well as how they compare with an estimate of mental age (i.e. is the patient's behavior significantly 'below' or 'above' for their age).
In addition to interviews with a psychologist and observations, neuropsychological testing can be beneficial in assessing ADHD symptoms. Some tests have been specifically designed to assess the most important symptoms of ADHD including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. Two of these tests are the Quantified Behavior test for children (6-12 year olds) and Qb+(c), for adults (12 years or older). These tests employ motion tracking systems that measure head movements and produce measurements of activity (i.e., the time spent moving more than 1 cm/s), distance and surface covered by movement as and microevents (i.e. tiny movements of more than 1 millimeter). They also calculate estimates of mistakes in omission and commission, the two components of ADHD's executive functioning issues.
It is crucial that the clinician conducts a thorough examination. They will inquire about the patient's health and development history, which includes their childhood history, work and school experiences, family life, and drug and alcohol usage to determine any contributing factors which may be contributing to the symptoms. They will then use a combination of the SWAN, patient or parent ratings, and objective cognitive testing to arrive at their diagnosis.