ADHD Diagnosis - How an Expert Makes a Diagnosis
Adults with ADHD need a thorough evaluation from a professional who is familiar with the disorder. They'll likely inquire about your history and conduct a physical examination. They'll also rule out conditions that could be a cause of ADHD like learning disorders, mood disorders or thyroid conditions.
The doctor will also inquire about your childhood habits, since the current American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that adult ADHD cannot be diagnosed without evidence of symptoms from childhood. This includes getting school records and contacting former teachers, religious leaders, or coaches.
Signs and symptoms
If you or someone you love struggles to keep up with school, work or at home, is having trouble remembering important dates or appointments, or can't seem to stay organized or stay on top of things, you could be suffering from ADHD. A health professional's assessment can help you determine whether this is the case and if so what your treatment options are.
The symptoms must be evident in at least two environments (school and at home, for instance) and for at least six months to be able to qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. The symptoms must also be hindering your ability to function for instance in class, creating close relationships, or working in a group. It's important to understand that everyone struggles with staying focused and well-organized at times, but these problems are more severe for those with ADHD.
Your doctor will ask questions about your behavior, and how it has impacted your life. The doctors will also examine your family history, as well as any previous medical or psychological tests that you may have taken. They will be looking for health issues like thyroid issues and seizure disorders that could cause the same symptoms as ADHD.
Your doctor will ask you whether you've had symptoms in your childhood (technically before age 12). They'll also want to know how your symptoms affect you now and how they have affected you in the past. They'll want to know whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD in the past.
It's helpful to bring your own list of symptoms to the appointment, particularly when you've written them down. This will help you remember your symptoms and give your doctor a complete picture about how they affect you. You may also bring older records like old reports or performance evaluations. These records can help your provider 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 depression or anxiety that often exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD.
History
In the past, ADHD has been viewed as a flaw in character. But, with advancements in diagnosis and treatments increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed and the stigma surrounding this disorder is slowly disappearing.
In 1902 Sir George Frederick Still presented a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians. He described his observations about children who were unfocused or incapable of concentrating. He also pointed out that the symptoms were more prevalent for boys than girls and were not related to the home environment or intelligence. Still's report is often associated with the first official recognition of ADHD.
The first version of APA's psychiatric guide, published in 1952, did not mention ADHD. In 1955, however, the US FDA approved stimulant drugs which were prescribed as the primary treatment for ADHD. In 1968 the APA released its second edition that included a variety of mental health disorders. The second edition of the APA's manual listed several mental health conditions, including ADHD symptoms.
With the release of the fourth edition of the manual for psychiatric patients in 1994, there was an increase in awareness 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 considers these to be different types of presentations and states that they are able to change over the course of a person's life.
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence), published guidelines on ADHD in adults in 2008. This was the first time that the UK as a whole recognised with healthcare support, funding and guidance adults who suffer from ADHD. SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) has also issued advice on ADHD among children. These two documents are the only official NHS Scotland recommendations on the condition. Private organisations and charities have also developed guidelines. In recent years there has been a rising interest in the biological causes of ADHD, and researchers have begun to identify the genes that cause it. This knowledge will help in the future to create more targeted and effective treatments.
Physical Exam
A specialist in ADHD will conduct a thorough assessment to diagnose the condition. They collect information about the person's past, including their family, educational and employment history as well as social and personal. They might look over old school records or talk to coaches, teachers, and other professionals that know the person. They will ask questions about symptoms, and how they impact life. They will also look at 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 adults and children. 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. A customized questionnaire to the specific situation will be used by the doctor to ask the patient about their symptoms. They may also employ different rating scales to evaluate various aspects of ADHD symptoms. Some of these ratings will be built on the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale For Adults while others will be based on other criteria, such as "Do you find it difficult to sit still?" Do you struggle with organizing your time or activities?
They will conduct a physical exam. They will check to see whether there are any medical problems that could be causing or making the symptoms worse like thyroid dysfunction, vision or hearing issues. They will also inquire about the person's dietary and lifestyle habits to determine if they might be contributing to the symptoms.
If a person is evaluated for ADHD at the age of adulthood, they will be asked to fill out a questionnaire together with their partner or a trusted friend. This will help to gain the personal insights that questionnaires and checklists in no way able to provide. This is particularly beneficial for people suffering from comorbid conditions like anxiety or depression that often co-occur with ADHD and make the symptoms harder to spot.
Psychological Evaluation
When a health care professional evaluating a child or adult for ADHD first interviews them, they ask them a series of questions regarding how the symptoms affect their lives. They also go over a patient's mental health and family history.
They typically ask people to bring in report cards and school records for review, especially those from kindergarten through high school. They can also request copies of previous tests for neuropsychology or psychological, including IQ tests and results from learning disabilities assessments.
Typically, a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker is the person who conducts the interview part of an assessment of the diagnosis of adhd. They may also conduct interviews with relatives, friends as well as teachers or employers. It is important to get an extensive assessment since people with ADHD who are not treated may face serious issues. These could include financial issues (impulsive purchases) or marital issues, or failure at colleges or other educational institutions.
During how to get diagnosed with adhd as an adult , the provider will often ask the patient to complete standardized behavior rating scales designed to detect ADHD symptoms. These questionnaires are based on research that compared the behavior of those with ADHD and those who do not suffer from the disorder. These ratings do not constitute an official diagnosis of ADHD but they are an important aspect of the evaluation process.
It is crucial to evaluate the individual to determine if there are other conditions that might have similar symptoms as ADHD. These include sleep disorders, mood disorders, and addiction to drugs, and also medical ailments such as thyroid disease or brain injuries. These conditions are more likely than other conditions to respond to specific treatments. It is therefore important to establish a proper diagnosis and get the appropriate treatment.
A person of any age must meet the requirements of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to be diagnosed with ADHD. They must exhibit symptomatic behaviors in at least two different settings that include home, school, and work. The symptoms should also substantially affect the way they live of their lives. Generally speaking, the symptoms should have started in the early years of life, and a psychiatrist must be able to determine that the disorder isn't caused by a mental illness or comorbidity.