Getting a Diagnosis for ADHD
Getting a diagnosis for ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that affect your school, work and relationships. Your primary care doctor 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, including colleagues, friends, former teachers or religious leaders. Your evaluator will also require details regarding your symptoms in settings outside of the office, like your home or workplace.
Signs and symptoms
If a person, whether a child or an adult, is struggling with ADHD symptoms for several years, it may be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. A person must show at least six signs of hyperactivity or inattention that significantly affect their daily functioning. This includes making careless errors at school or at work, or ignoring important things. These symptoms must have started in the first year of childhood before the age of 12 and are not caused by other disorders, like anxiety or depression.
Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and review your your child's mental, family and medical health history. They will also examine the way your child or you behaves in different situations like at home and at school. They may ask you to speak to other people about your child's behavior, including relatives, friends teachers, coaches, and friends.
A thorough examination will determine if ADHD is the root reason behind the problem and the best medication to use. If impulsivity is the primary reason behind ADHD symptoms and symptoms, then medication that alters the dopamine receptors could be required. They may also have to address underlying health problems like anxiety or depression.
During the interview, you or your child's health provider will ask questions about your or their symptoms and how they affect your life and the length of time you've been suffering from these symptoms. They will also discuss your child's or your own health and behavior history. They will be looking to determine if you or your child has a family history of ADHD because it is highly genetically inherited.
If you or your child is diagnosed with ADHD A mental health professional can provide support and guidance in adjusting to living with the condition. Therapy can assist you or your child discover their feelings, including anxiety, shame, or regrets about how the disorder has affected them or you. It can also assist in developing better ways to manage the condition in your child's or in your everyday life.
Diagnosis
To be considered to have ADHD, the symptoms must satisfy the criteria of a specific set. These symptoms are outlined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). how to diagnose adhd suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty focusing at school or at work. Inattentiveness and impulsiveness can also make it difficult for them to keep relationships or friendships.
A professional such as a doctor or mental health provider, will interview you to determine if you have ADHD. how to diagnose adhd may be asked to bring old report cards or other documentation from your childhood which could aid in identifying past problems. The doctor will also review the person's previous and current family, medical, social, and psychiatric history.
It is important to know that many people do not have ADHD symptoms or don't show enough for the condition to be diagnosed. A majority of healthy children exhibit inattention and hyperactive behavior from time to time. Children with young attention spans and frequently are unable to remain focused on one thing for a long time. Even teenagers or older children may have difficulty to stay focused on something boring or uninteresting for long.
It is recommended to consult your pediatrician when you notice these signs in your child. They might also suggest a doctor who is specialized in the field of developmental and behavioral disorders. You can ask friends and family for recommendations or look online for professionals that specialize in ADHD evaluations. It's also helpful to be aware that your child could suffer from a sleep disorder, or another physical condition that could cause similar symptoms.
It's important that you tell the truth in your conversation with your doctor. The health care provider may want to speak with a teacher or other individuals who knew you from the early years, and he/ she will also look at the individual's work and social activities to determine how their symptoms affect them. The specialist will assess the individual and determine if she has ADHD. If the person is diagnosed with ADHD, the specialist can recommend a treatment plan.
Treatment
It is best to consult your doctor if you believe that you might have ADHD. They will refer you to a mental health professional who will assess you and make an assessment. The professional in charge of your mental health may ask you to describe your symptoms and go over your medical and family history. They will also use standard behavioral rating scales and ADHD symptoms checklists. They might also request your permission to contact your family or friends as well as coworkers in order to get a better understanding of how you function in different situations and environments. They can also conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments to measure your working memory, executive functions (ability to plan and make decisions, as well as have visual and spatial abilities) and reasoning abilities and spatial and visual 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 examine the time at which symptoms started and if they have been present since childhood.
For adults for adults, the American Psychiatric Association provides clinical guidelines in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These guidelines stipulate that you must have at least five signs of ADHD to be diagnosed with ADHD.
Your doctor will prescribe medications to help manage your symptoms. There are stimulant and non-stimulant medicines. It may take several tries to find one that is effective for you. Be sure to inform your doctor if taking any other medications specifically for depression or heart issues. These drugs can interact with some ADHD medication. Herbal supplements and other complementary health approaches can also be used to treat ADHD. But, they haven't been scientifically shown to improve symptoms of ADHD therefore, they don't count as evidence-based treatments.
Counseling
Although there isn't a specific test to determine ADHD, a comprehensive evaluation usually includes standardized assessments and interviews. Mental health professionals like social workers and psychologists or advanced practice nurses, are most qualified to diagnose ADHD since they know how it impacts different areas of the person's life. They can also rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms. During an examination, it's essential for the patient to talk about their symptoms candidly and without shame. They should be prepared to answer any questions that the healthcare professional might have in regards to their childhood and schooling experiences. Some therapists will request permission to interview friends, family members and spouses to gain additional information about the symptoms of a patient.
ADHD can cause adults to forget appointments, miss deadlines and make impulsive choices that frustrate even the most tolerant of colleagues, partners and friends. Therapy that focuses on these issues can help them understand how to manage their own behavior and devise strategies to reduce impulsivity and improve organizational skills. They could also benefit from classes that teach them effective techniques for resolving conflicts and problem-solving as well as couples therapy or other programs that help improve relationships.
Counseling services are available at community centers, private practices, and special clinics for those who suffer from ADHD. Most are led by a licensed therapist and some offer group therapy. Some offer support groups for parents of children suffering from ADHD. They also provide information about the disorder, treatment options, and other sources.
Counseling for ADHD is most effective when it's combined with medication and behavioral therapy. A therapist can employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to teach a person with ADHD how to recognize negative thinking patterns that contribute to their symptoms and alter them. For instance when they are constantly worried about not being able to finish their work in time, therapy can help them learn to take small steps towards their goals and reward themselves when they accomplish those tasks. They can also design self-management strategies to manage routine tasks, such as setting an alarm for waking up and placing their bags and clothes in the same spot every morning.