ADHD Diagnosis - How an Expert Makes a Diagnosis
Adults with ADHD require a thorough assessment by a doctor who is well-versed in the disorder. They will likely ask you about your past and perform physical examination. They'll also rule out conditions which could be a cause of ADHD like mood disorders, learning disorders, or thyroid issues.
The doctor will also ask about your childhood behavior because current American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that adult ADHD cannot be diagnosed without evidence of symptoms from childhood. This could include finding your school records and contacting previous teachers or coaches as well as religious leaders.
Signs and symptoms
If you or a loved one is struggling to keep up at school, work or at home, is having difficulty remembering important dates or appointments, or is unable to get organized or stay on top of things, you could be suffering from ADHD. A health professional's assessment can help you determine if this is the case, and, if so, what treatment options there are.
To qualify for an ADHD diagnosis, the symptoms have to be present for at least 6 months and be apparent in at least two different settings (school and at home, for example). They must also be a major obstacle in your ability to function in some ways, such as performing well in class, developing close bonds, or working on teams. It's important to realize that everyone has problems staying focused and organized at times, but these problems are more serious with ADHD.
Your doctor will ask questions about your behavior and how it has impacted your life. The doctors will also review your family history, as well as any previous medical or psychological tests that you may have taken. They will search for health problems such as thyroid issues and seizure disorders, which can cause the similar symptoms as ADHD.
Your doctor will inquire if you have ever had symptoms during your childhood (technically before age 12). They'll also want to know how your symptoms impact you today and how they have affected you in the past. They'll also be interested in knowing if you've ever been diagnosed with ADHD before.
It's a good idea to bring a list of symptoms to the appointment, especially 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 impact you. You can also bring documents like performance evaluations from work or old school report cards. These records can help your provider determine if ADHD is a new issue or has been present for a long period of time. These records can help your provider rule other problems out, such as anxiety and depression that have similar symptoms to ADHD.
History
In the past, ADHD has been viewed as a flaw in the character of a person. However, with the advancement of diagnosis and treatments, more children are being diagnosed and the stigma surrounding the disorder is fading away.
Sir George Frederick Still gave a series of lectures in 1902 at the Royal College of Physicians. He shared his observations of children who were unfocused and unable to focus. He also pointed out that these signs were more common in boys than girls and were not related to the home environment or intelligence. The report is often credited with the first the formal recognition of ADHD.
The initial version 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 medications that were the main treatment for ADHD. The APA released its second edition in 1968, which listed several mental health conditions. The second edition of the manual included a variety of mental health issues, including ADHD symptoms.
With the release of the fourth edition of the manual for psychiatric patients in 1994, there was a greater acceptance and understanding 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 as presenting symptoms, not distinct types and states that they could change over the course of a person's lifetime.
In 2008, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) released guidelines on ADHD in adults. It was the first occasion that the UK as an entire officially recognized adults with ADHD and provided them with funding, healthcare support and guidance. SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) has also issued advice on ADHD in children. These two documents are the only official NHS recommendations regarding the condition in Scotland. Private organizations and charities have also developed guidelines. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the biological causes of ADHD. Researchers have started to identify the genes that cause ADHD. This knowledge could help in the future to develop more targeted and better treatments.
Physical Examination
A specialist in ADHD will conduct a thorough assessment to identify the problem. Whether they are a physician who specializes in mental health (such as a psychiatrist or psychologist) or an individual doctor who is trained in child and young health (a paediatrician), they will want to collect a range of information about the person's history that includes education, family, and social history. They might review old school records or interview teachers, coaches, and other professionals that know the person. They will inquire about the symptoms and how they impact life. They will also examine 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 to diagnose 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. A customized questionnaire to the particular situation will be utilized by the specialist to talk to the patient about their symptoms. adult adhd diagnoses will also use different rating scales to look at different aspects 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 also include questions such as "Do you often have trouble sitting still?" Do you struggle to organize your time or activities?
They will conduct a physical examination. They will look for medical conditions that could be creating the symptoms or making them worse, such as thyroid problem, hearing or vision issues. They will also inquire about the person's diet and lifestyle habits to determine if they could be contributing to the symptoms.
If a person is assessed for ADHD in adulthood and is being evaluated for ADHD, they will be asked to fill out the questionnaire with their partner or a close family member. This will help to gain personal insight that checklists and questionnaires are in no way able to provide. This is particularly beneficial for people suffering from comorbid conditions like anxiety or depression, which often co-occur with ADHD and make the symptoms harder to recognize.
Psychological Evaluation
A health care professional who is evaluating a child for ADHD will ask them a series questions about the symptoms and how they impact their daily lives. They also examine a patient's family history and mental health.
They usually request that the person bring in report cards and school records for review, particularly those from kindergarten through high school. They may also ask for copies of any previous psychological or neuropsychological testing, including results from IQ tests and learning disabilities assessments.
Typically an audiologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or a social worker conducts the interview portion in an evaluation of the severity of adhd. In addition, they could interview relatives, friends and teachers as well. It is important to have a comprehensive evaluation because people who suffer from untreated ADHD are susceptible to serious issues, including financial problems (impulsive spending), marital difficulties or failing in colleges or other educational institutions.
During the interview, the provider will typically request that the patient complete the standard behavior rating scales developed to identify ADHD symptoms. These questionnaires are based on research that compared the behavior of people suffering from ADHD and those without the disorder. These scores do not constitute an official diagnosis of ADHD but they are an important part of the evaluation process.
It is crucial to assess the individual to determine if there are other conditions that may exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD. These include mood disorders, sleep disorders and substance abuse as well as medical illnesses such as thyroid diseases or brain injuries. These conditions are more likely to respond to specific treatments. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the correct diagnosis and to 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 display symptoms in at least two different settings that include school, home, and work. The symptoms must significantly interfere with the functioning of their lives. Generally speaking, the symptoms should be present since the early years of childhood. A psychiatric provider must determine that the disorder is not caused by a mental illness or comorbid condition.