Getting a Diagnosis for ADHD
Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in managing symptoms that interfere with your work, school and relationships. Your primary care physician may refer you to a mental health professional who is qualified to conduct an ADHD evaluation.
It's important to interview people you know well, like your friends, co-workers and past teachers or religious leaders. Your evaluator must be aware about your health issues outside of the office, at home or at work.
Signs and symptoms
It isn't easy to identify ADHD in a child or an adult who has been suffering from symptoms for a long period of. A person has to show at least six symptoms of hyperactivity or inattention that seriously affect their daily functioning. This includes making careless mistakes at school or at work, or not remembering important things. These symptoms must have begun in childhood, before age 12. They cannot be caused by another disorder, like anxiety or depression.
diagnosed with adhd will perform a physical examination and examine the medical and family health histories of you or your child. They will also examine how your child performs in various settings, like school and home. They might require you to talk to other people about your child's behavior, including parents, friends, teachers, and coaches.
A thorough assessment can help identify whether ADHD is the root cause of problems for a person and help determine the kind of medication that is most effective. For instance, if a person's ADHD symptoms are mostly due to the tendency to be impulsive, they may require medication that affects the dopamine system. They might also need to treat other health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
During the interview the child's or your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and their impact on your life, and the length of time they have been present. They will also talk about your child's or your own health and behavioral history. They will want to know whether your child or you has an ancestral history of ADHD, as it is a highly heritable condition.
If you or your child is diagnosed with ADHD A mental health professional can provide support and guidance in adjusting to the challenges of living with ADHD. Therapy can assist you or your child discover their emotions, including anger, shame, and regrets about how the disorder affected them or you. Therapy can also help you develop better ways to manage the disorder in your child's life or your own daily life.
Diagnosis
To be considered to have ADHD, the symptoms must satisfy certain criteria. These symptoms are outlined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). ADHD can cause people to be unable to concentrate at work or at school. They also may have trouble maintaining friendships or relationships because of their inattention and indecisive behavior.
A professional such as a psychiatrist or a doctor provider, will interview you to determine whether you suffer from ADHD. You might be asked to bring old report cards or other documentation from your childhood which could help you remember past issues. The doctor will also examine the person's present and past medical, family, and social background.
It is important to remember that a lot of people don't show symptoms of ADHD or don't exhibit enough to be diagnosed with the condition. The majority of healthy children exhibit inattention and hyperactive behaviors from time to time. Young children are susceptible to have short attention spans and often aren't able to stick with one activity for very long. Even teenagers and older kids may not be able to stay focused for long on something boring or doesn't appeal to them a lot.
It is recommended to consult your pediatrician when you notice these signs in your child. They might also suggest an expert doctor in disorders of development and behavior. You can ask for recommendations from relatives and friends or look up specialists who specialize in ADHD evaluations. It is important to recognize that your child might suffer from a sleep disorder or other physical illness that can cause similar symptoms.
It's important that you tell the truth during your interview with your doctor. The health care professional may be looking to talk to a former teacher or someone who was close to you when you were an infant. The doctor will also look into the person's social and professional life in order to determine the extent to which the symptoms are affecting them. The specialist will then assess the person and decide if or not he is suffering from ADHD. If the person is diagnosed with ADHD The specialist will suggest a treatment plan.
Treatment
If you suspect that you may have ADHD the first step is to talk to your health healthcare provider. They will refer you to an expert in mental health who will conduct an evaluation and provide a diagnosis. The mental health professional will ask you to describe your symptoms and go over your medical and family history. They'll also employ standard behavioral rating scales and ADHD symptoms checklists. They may also ask your permission to contact your family members as well as friends and colleagues to get a clearer picture of your performance in various situations and environments. They may also administer tests of neuropsychological or psychological nature to assess your working memory and executive functions (ability to plan and make decisions, as well as have visual and spatial skills), reasoning ability as well as spatial and visual abilities.
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 whether they were present since the age of.
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 exhibit at least five symptoms of ADHD to be diagnosed.
Your doctor will prescribe medication to you to control your symptoms. There are stimulant and non-stimulant medications. It could take a few attempts to find a medication that works for you. Inform your doctor about 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 treatments can also be utilized to treat ADHD. However, they haven't been scientifically shown to improve symptoms of ADHD Therefore, they don't count as evidence-based treatments.
Counseling
There is no one test to determine if you have ADHD. However an exhaustive assessment will include standardized assessments and interviews. Mental health professionals such as social workers and psychologists, or advanced practice nurses are the best equipped to diagnose ADHD since they understand how it affects various aspects of a person's life. They are also able to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. During an assessment, it is crucial that the patient is able to discuss their symptoms without embarrassment. They must also be prepared to answer questions from the healthcare professional, such as those about their childhood behavior and school experiences. Some therapists will request permission to interview friends, family members and spouses to gain additional understanding of the person's condition.
ADHD can cause adults to forget appointments, miss deadlines, and make impulsive choices that annoy even the most patient of colleagues, partners, and friends. Therapy that focuses on these issues will assist them in developing strategies to curb their impulsivity, improve their organizational skills, and learn to manage and regulate their behavior. They can also benefit by attending classes that teach effective conflict resolution, problem solving and improving relationships.
Counseling services for those suffering from ADHD are offered at community centers, private practices and specialty clinics. Some offer group therapy, and others are run by licensed therapists. Some offer support groups for parents of children suffering from ADHD as well as education on the disorder and treatment options, and other sources.
Counseling for ADHD can be most efficient when it is coupled with medication and behavior therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is taught by a therapist, can help a person with ADHD identify and change the negative thinking patterns that contribute to their symptoms. For instance, if they constantly worry about not finishing tasks on time, counseling can help them learn to take small steps towards their goals and reward themselves for completing those tasks. They can also develop self-management strategies for routine tasks, such as setting alarms to wake up, placing schoolbags and clothes in the same place each morning, and establishing a daily schedule.