ADHD Diagnosis - How an Expert Makes a Diagnosis
For adults, diagnosing ADHD requires a thorough assessment by a professional who specializes in the disorder. They'll likely inquire about your previous experiences and conduct physical examination. They'll also rule out any conditions that can mimic ADHD such as mood disorders, learning disorders, or thyroid disorders.
The doctor will also ask about your childhood habits, since the current American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that adults with ADHD cannot be diagnosed without evidence of symptoms from childhood. This could mean finding your school records and contact with your former teachers and coaches or religious leaders.
Symptoms
If you or a loved one struggles to keep up at school, work, or home, has difficulty remembering important dates or appointments, or is unable to organize, you may have ADHD. A visit to an expert in health care can help you find out if this is the case, and in the event that it is the case, what treatments are available.
The symptoms have to be present in at least two different environments (school and at home, for instance) and for at least six months in order to be able to qualify for an ADHD diagnoses. The symptoms should also be affecting your ability to function for instance in class, creating close relationships, or working as part of a team. It's crucial to understand that everyone has trouble staying on track and paying attention at times, but these issues are more severe in the case of ADHD.
Your doctor will ask questions about your behavior, and how it has impacted your life. The doctor will also look at your family history and any previous psychological or medical tests that you may have taken. They will look for health issues, such as thyroid problems and seizure disorders that can cause the similar symptoms as ADHD.
Your doctor will ask you whether you've ever experienced symptoms in your childhood (technically before age 12). They'll also want to know how your symptoms affect you today and how they've affected you in the past. They'll also want to know if you've ever been diagnosed with ADHD before.
It's helpful to bring your own list of symptoms to the appointment, particularly if you have them written down. This will allow you to keep track of your symptoms and give your doctor a complete picture of how they impact you. You may also bring old records such as old reports or performance evaluations. These documents can help your doctor determine whether ADHD is a recent problem or has been present for a long period of time. They can also help your doctor rule out other problems, such as anxiety or depression that often exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD.
History
In the past, ADHD has been viewed as a flaw in character. However, with advances in diagnosis and treatments, more children are being diagnosed, and the stigma around the disorder is fading away.
Sir George Frederick Still gave a series of lectures in 1902 at the Royal College of Physicians. He described his observations of children who were irritable and unfocused. He also noted that these signs were more prevalent in boys than girls, and were not correlated with the home environment or intelligence. Still's report has been considered to be the beginning of official recognition of ADHD.
The first edition of the psychiatric manual, released in 1952 by the American Psychological Association (APA) did not include ADHD. In 1955, however the US FDA approved stimulant drugs that were used as the primary treatment for ADHD. The APA published its second edition in 1968, and listed a number of mental health conditions. It included the symptoms of ADHD, although they were still referred to as hyperkinetic reaction in childhood.
The release of the fourth edition of the manual on psychiatry in 1994, there was an increase in understanding and acceptance of ADHD. Its name 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 views these as presenting symptoms, not distinct types, and states that they may change over the course of a person's lifetime.
In 2008, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) published guidance on ADHD in adults. This was the first time that the UK as a whole officially recognized adults with ADHD and provided them with healthcare, funding, support and guidance. SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network), has also released advice on ADHD among children. These two documents are the sole official NHS Scotland guidelines on the condition. Private organisations and charities have also issued guidance. In recent years there has been an increase in interest in the biological causes of ADHD and researchers have begun to discover the genes responsible for it. This knowledge will help in the future to develop more targeted and better treatments.
Physical Examination
A specialist in ADHD will conduct a thorough evaluation to diagnose the condition. They will collect information from the patient's past, including their family, education, employment and social history. They will go through the school records from the past and interview teachers, coaches 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 American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, defines the criteria for diagnosing ADHD in children and adults. To meet diagnosis of adhd , the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity must be present in multiple settings, cause significant impairment and have started before age 12. A customized questionnaire to the situation will be used by the doctor to ask the patient about their symptoms. read here will also use different scales of assessment that examine different aspects of the ADHD symptoms. Some of these ratings will be based on the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale For Adults, while others will be based on other factors, including questions such as "Do you find it difficult to sit still?" Do you have trouble organizing your time or activities?
They will conduct a physical exam. They will determine if there are any medical conditions that could be contributing to the symptoms or making them worse, like thyroid problem, vision or hearing issues. They will also inquire with the person about their diet and lifestyle habits in order to determine if these may contribute to symptoms.
Someone who is being assessed for ADHD as an adult is likely to be asked to complete an assessment with their partner or close friend. This will help to gain personal insight that questionnaires and checklists unable to provide. This is particularly beneficial for those suffering from co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety. These are often associated with ADHD which makes it difficult to identify the signs.
Psychological Evaluation
A health care professional who is evaluating a child for ADHD will ask them a series of questions about the symptoms and how they impact their daily lives. They also examine a patient's family history and their mental health.
They typically request that the person bring in report cards and school records to review, particularly those from kindergarten through high school. They may also request copies of previous tests, such as neuropsychological or psychological which include IQ tests and results from learning disabilities assessments.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker usually conducts the interview part of an adhd diagnostic evaluation. They may also interview family members, friends and teachers as well as employers. It is essential to have thorough evaluations because those who are not treated for ADHD are susceptible to serious issues such as financial problems (impulsive spending) or marital issues, as well as failure in college or other educational institutions.
During an interview, a doctor may ask the patient to complete standardized behavioral ratings scales which are designed to help identify ADHD symptoms. These questionnaires are based upon research that compared the behavior of people with ADHD and those without the disorder. These ratings do not constitute a diagnosis of ADHD however they are an important element of the evaluation process.
It is crucial to examine the person to determine if they have other conditions that might have similar symptoms as ADHD. These include sleep disorders, mood disorders and substance abuse, and also medical ailments like thyroid disease or brain injuries. These conditions are more likely than others to respond to specific treatments. It is therefore crucial to determine the correct diagnosis and receive the right treatment.
A person of any age must meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to be diagnosed with ADHD. They must display symptomatic behavior in more than one setting, like home, school and at work, and the symptoms must be affecting their life functioning. Generally, the symptoms must have started in childhood, and a psychiatric provider must determine that the disorder isn't caused by a mental illness or comorbidity.