How to Get a Diagnosis For ADHD
Everyone struggles with concentration at times, but when ADHD symptoms get in the way of school, work or relationships, treatment can help. The diagnosis begins with a physical exam, followed by reviews of health and school records.
The diagnosis of ADHD in adults is more complex than it is for children, because the symptoms guide used to diagnose children doesn't apply to adults. A comprehensive evaluation will include an interview with a clinician and screening to determine if t here are any co-existing disorders.
Medical Histories
To determine if a patient has ADHD, a health care provider will review the patient's medical history. This includes family history, symptoms and any other information relevant to the person's life such as work problems or relationship issues. The doctor will also take into consideration the impact of the symptoms on daily functioning. Health care professionals use the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) to guide their diagnosis.
The doctor will also conduct an examination of the body. This will include examining for health issues like hearing and vision problems or thyroid diseases. They will also assess the child or adult's behavior and look over old school reports. Based on the circumstances the doctor may inquire about past drug or alcohol abuse and any other mental health issues.
Children are usually diagnosed with ADHD by the pediatrician or health care professional who specializes in mental disorders. The healthcare provider may also employ standard ADHD symptoms checklists and questionnaires, which include rating scales and questions that are geared towards the age of the child or teenager. These tools help the health care professional determine whether the symptoms fit the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and if they are inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive.
To make a diagnosis of ADHD in children, the health care professional will need to find that several of the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms are present and have been ongoing for at least six months. These symptoms must be present in at minimum two settings including school or at home, as well as social situations. They must also cause dysfunction in these areas of a person's life. In addition, the symptoms must significantly hinder a child's ability to function in everyday activities. They must also be more severe than what would be expected for children of this age.
In adults, the signs might appear slightly different. Someone suffering from ADHD may be able to complete their education and excel in their career but have trouble with finances and relationships due to impulsive, troubled behaviors.
Psychological Evaluation
Whether you or your child experiencing symptoms of ADHD, the first step in treating it is to seek a psychological evaluation by a licensed health professional. The most effective method of diagnosing ADHD is to conduct a detailed and thorough clinical interview, using neuropsychological and rating scales tests. This is a long process, but it is worth it to get an accurate diagnosis.
The healthcare professional conducting the ADHD assessment will go over your medical history and family history to determine if the disorder is a family issue. They may also request information from people who spend lots of time with your children, like teachers and babysitters. They can utilize checklists or questionnaires specifically designed for your child's age. They can also request past school reports to identify patterns in behavior.
It is crucial that the healthcare professional who performs your ADHD assessment has experience in diagnosing and treating this disorder. They should also be aware of the DSM-5 criteria. They should also be conversant with the most recent research on the reliability and validity for various assessment tools. It is also beneficial if the healthcare provider has access to test results from important clinical populations. This can aid in the development of their diagnostic impressions.
The healthcare provider will make treatment recommendations if you or your child are diagnosed with ADHD. This treatment usually includes an individualized behavioral therapy program and medication. Certain medications may help relieve some of the distracting symptoms that are a result of this disorder. Behavioral therapy is, on the other hand, is designed to teach you strategies and techniques to improve your ability to control your behavior.
Based on the severity of your ailments and the extent of their impact on your daily life, the doctor will suggest treatments that are appropriate for your needs. The treatments could include psychotherapy (the technical term used to describe mental-health therapy) or strategies for adaptation (similar step stool, which allows shorter people to get to higher levels). Some doctors will prescribe medication. The use of medication can help alleviate some of the most troublesome symptoms of ADHD, but it should be done under the guidance of a doctor or psychiatrist who has worked with this condition.
Behavioral Tests
Behavioral tests check for the specific signs that indicate ADHD in people of all different ages. This includes inattention, difficulty following directions, and difficulties completing schoolwork or tasks at home. People suffering from this disorder might also have a hard time playing quietly, fidgeting or interacting without thinking about the consequences or interrupting others, as well as forgetting important things. These issues are more prevalent for boys than girls however, both genders can be affected.
The evaluation process starts with a thorough interview to collect information regarding your medical history and family history. The healthcare professional will want to know when the symptoms began and what appears to be the cause of their improvement or worsening. The therapist will usually ask about the person's family or lifestyle, and may also discuss other household members or those who spend significant time with them like coaches, teachers or babysitters.
A thorough ADHD assessment requires time. A person with the condition can't be diagnosed in a matter of 15 minutes. The speed at which you go through this process increases the risk of misdiagnosis and not recognizing a mental issue that could benefit from treatment.
In order for an ADHD diagnosis, a person must show that they have both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in two or more settings (like school or work). The symptoms must be present since childhood. The therapist must also be sure that the symptoms are not caused by other issues, such as depression or anxiety.
For adolescents and children it is a screening test frequently used to pinpoint symptoms. The children and teens are asked to describe their behavior, and their answers are compared to the responses of other children and teens. Broad-spectrum scales are a way to detect disorders of the psyche and are typically ordered by doctors when they suspect the presence of a comorbid condition, such as anxiety or depression could be contributing to the ADHD symptoms.
Other diagnostic tools are frequently employed. These can include the neuropsychological test battery tests for cognitive abilities, and rating scales. These can provide an objective assessment of the patient's strengths and weaknesses and help in confirming or excluding the ADHD diagnosis.
Brain Scan
A brain scan is useful in identifying adhd. Several types of brain scans are available which include MRI, CT, and PET scans. CT and MRI scans are used to examine cross-sections of brain and spine, while PET scans determine the concentration of certain neurotransmitters present in the brain. MRI scans don't use any radiation and are the safest option for screening.
The DSM-5 definition of ADHD requires documentation of six or more symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity in two settings. The symptoms must have been present for at minimum six months and have a negative impact with the person's academic or social functioning. ADHD affects between 2.5 and 9% of the world's population. It is more common in girls than boys and manifests differently depending on gender. In girls, symptoms tend to be associated with difficulty keeping track of attention or organizing skills than by physical activity and the tendency to be impulsive.
It can be difficult to tell the distinction between ADHD symptoms and normal childhood behavior. The symptoms of ADHD can be misinterpreted as social anxiety or depression.
To minimize the chance of errors in diagnosis In order to reduce the number of diagnostic errors, objective measures can be used to determine the cognitive functioning of children. However, the use of standardized rating scales to diagnose ADHD has limitations. Observational tests such as continuous performance tests are biased and their correlation to symptoms of parents or teachers is moderate to low (1 2, 3).
A recent study by Brown et al. examined the diagnostic validity of fMRI brain imaging in a group of medication-naive subjects with a history of ADHD and no mental health diagnoses. The subject group was subjected to baseline SPECT scanning while at rest and performing an activity, using visual analysis ROIs to detect differences in their ADHD diagnosis as compared to a group of control subjects. Using these methods, the authors were able to achieve a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89%. They also discovered that the onset of symptoms in the orbital frontal cortex is associated with the presence of clinical symptoms. The results of this study demonstrate that the SPECT fMRI technique has the potential to be used in clinical practice to reliably identify patients with ADHD.