ADHD Diagnosis - How an Expert Makes a Diagnosis
Adults with ADHD require a thorough evaluation by a specialist who is knowledgeable about the disorder. They'll likely ask you about your previous experiences and conduct a physical examination. They'll also rule out conditions which could be a cause of ADHD such as mood disorders, learning disorders, or thyroid conditions.
The doctor will also ask about your childhood behaviors, since the current American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that adults with ADHD cannot be diagnosed without evidence of symptoms from childhood. This could include obtaining your school records and getting in touch with former teachers, coaches, or religious leaders.
Signs and symptoms
You may have ADHD If you or someone you know has trouble keeping track of time at school, work or at home. If they're unable to remember important dates or appointments, or cannot keep their schedules in order and on track, then they could be suffering from ADHD. A health care professional's assessment can help you determine whether this is the case, and, if it is what your treatment options are.
The symptoms must be present in at least two environments (school and at home, for example) and for at least six months to meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis. They should also seriously interfere with your ability to function in some ways, such as doing well in class, developing close relationships, or functioning on teams. It's crucial to understand that everyone has difficulty staying focused and organized at times, but these issues are more severe in the case of ADHD.
To make a diagnosis, your physician will conduct an interview and ask you questions about your behavior and how it has affected your life. Providers will also review your family history as well as any previous psychological or medical tests you've had. They will be looking for health problems like thyroid issues and seizure disorders that could cause the same symptoms as ADHD.
Your provider will ask if you have ever had symptoms during your childhood (technically prior to the age of 12). They'll also be interested in how your symptoms affect you now and how they have affected you in the past. They'll also want to know whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD before.
It's a good idea to bring a list of symptoms to the appointment, particularly when you've written them down. This will allow you to keep track of your symptoms and give your doctor a complete picture of how they affect you. You can also bring records like performance evaluations from work or old report cards from school. These documents can help your doctor determine if ADHD has been a problem throughout your entire life or if it began recently. These records can help your doctor determine if there are other issues, such as depression and anxiety, which have similar symptoms as ADHD.
History
In the past, ADHD was thought to be a flaw in character or laziness. With advancements in diagnosis and treatment, more children are diagnosed and the stigma associated with the disorder is slowly fading.
In 1902 Sir George Frederick Still presented a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians. He shared his observations of children who were unfocused or incapable of concentrating. He also noted that these signs were more prevalent for boys than girls and were not related to intelligence or the environment in which they lived. Still's report is often associated with the first formal recognition of ADHD.
The first version of APA's psychiatric guide, published in 1952, did not mention ADHD. But in 1955, the US FDA approved the use of a stimulant drug, which was the most commonly used treatment for ADHD. The APA published its second edition in 1968. It included a variety of mental health issues. The second edition of the manual listed several mental health issues, including ADHD symptoms.
After the publication of the fourth edition of the manual for psychiatric patients in 1994, there was a greater acceptance and understanding of ADHD. adhd diagnosis adults was changed to Attention Deficit Disorder with or without hyperactivity and the standard definition of three types of ADHD symptoms was established: mostly inattentive, mainly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. The current DSM-5 defines these as manifestations rather than distinct types and states that they can change over the course of a person's life.
In 2008, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) released guidelines on ADHD in adults. It was the first occasion that the UK as a whole officially recognized adults with ADHD, providing them with funding, healthcare assistance and guidance. SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) has also issued advice on ADHD in children. These two documents are the sole official NHS Scotland recommendations regarding the condition. Private and non-profit organizations have also produced guidance. In recent years, there has been a rise in interest in the biological cause of ADHD. Researchers have begun to find the genes responsible. This information could be helpful in the near future in developing more specific and effective treatments.
Physical Exam
A specialist in ADHD will conduct a thorough assessment to identify the problem. Whether they are a physician who is specialized in mental health (such as psychologist or psychiatrist) or a doctor who is also educated in the field of child and youth health (a paediatrician), they will want to gather a variety of information about the person's history, including the family, educational, work and social history. They might look over the old school records, or speak with coaches, teachers and other professionals who know the person. They will ask about the symptoms and how they affect life. They will also consider how the symptoms have changed over time.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association defines the criteria for diagnosing ADHD in children and adults. To meet these criteria, the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity must be present in multiple settings, cause significant impairment and have started before age 12. The doctor will usually talk to the person regarding their symptoms using an assessment that is adapted to the particular situation. They may also employ different scales of assessment that look at different aspects of the ADHD symptoms. Some of these ratings are basing on the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale for adults, whereas others are based on a variety of other criteria. They include questions like "Do you find it difficult to sitting down?" and "Do you find it hard to organize your time or tasks?"
They will perform a physical exam. They will determine if there are any medical conditions that might be causing or making the symptoms worse for example, thyroid dysfunction or vision and hearing problems. They will also ask the person about their diet and lifestyle habits to determine if these may be contributing to the symptoms.
Someone who is being evaluated for ADHD as an adult will likely be asked to fill out a questionnaire with their partner or close friend. This can help uncover the personal insights that questionnaires and checklists are not able to provide. This can be particularly useful for people with comorbid conditions such as depression or anxiety, which often co-occur with ADHD and make the symptoms harder to spot.
Psychological Evaluation
A health professional who is evaluating a child's ADHD will ask them a series of questions about the symptoms and how they affect their daily life. They also look into the history of the patient's family and mental health.
They may ask for a copy of the student's report card or school records, especially those from kindergarten to high school. They may also ask for copies of any previous neuropsychological or psychological tests, including the results of IQ tests and learning disabilities assessments.
A psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker typically is the person who conducts the interview portion of an adhd diagnostic assessment. They may also conduct interviews with relatives, friends as well as teachers or employers. It is essential to have a comprehensive evaluation because people who are not treated for ADHD can experience serious problems, including financial problems (impulsive spending) or marital issues, as well as failure at colleges or other educational institutions.
During the interview, the provider will typically ask the patient to fill out standardized behavior rating scales that are designed to help identify ADHD symptoms. These tests are based on research that compares the behavior of those suffering from ADHD to those of individuals without the disorder. These ratings do not constitute a diagnosis of ADHD, but they are an important part in the assessment process.
It is also important to evaluate the individual to determine if they have other conditions that may have similar symptoms as ADHD. These include sleep disorders, mood disorders and substance abuse and medical conditions such as thyroid disease or brain injuries. These conditions are more likely to respond to specific treatments, therefore it is important that a correct diagnosis is made and the right treatment is offered.
To be able to be diagnosed with ADHD, either a child or an adult must meet several requirements in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. They must exhibit symptoms in two or more settings such as school, home, or at work, and their symptoms must significantly interfere with their life functioning. Typically, the symptoms must have started in childhood, and a psychiatric provider must determine that the disorder is not caused by another mental illness or comorbidity.