ADHD Diagnosis - How an Expert Makes a Diagnosis
Adults with ADHD require a thorough assessment by a doctor who is familiar with the disorder. They'll likely inquire about your history and conduct a physical examination. They'll also rule out other conditions that could be a cause of ADHD, such as learning disorders, mood disorders, or thyroid issues.
The doctor will inquire about your childhood behavior, since the American Psychiatric Association's guidelines state that ADHD in adults is not diagnosed without evidence of early signs. This means obtaining school records and contacting former teachers, religious leaders, or coaches.
Signs and symptoms
You could have ADHD in the event that you or someone you love has trouble keeping track of time at work, school or home. If undiagnosed adhd in adults can't 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 provider's evaluation can help you determine if this is the case, and, if so what your treatment options are.
To be eligible for an ADHD diagnosis the symptoms have to be present for at least 6 months and be evident in at minimum two different environments (school and home, for example). They must also be a major obstacle in your ability to function in certain ways, such as performing well in school, developing close bonds, or working in teams. It's crucial to understand that everyone has difficulty staying organized and paying attention at times, but these issues are more severe with ADHD.
Your provider will ask you questions about your behavior and how it has affected your life. The doctors will also review your family history, and any previous psychological or medical tests you've taken. They will also look for health problems, like thyroid disorders or seizures, which can cause similar symptoms as ADHD.
Your provider will ask whether you've ever experienced symptoms in childhood (technically before age 12). They'll also be interested in how your symptoms affect you today and how they have affected you in the past. They'll want to know if you've been diagnosed with ADHD in the past.
It's helpful to bring a list of symptoms to your appointment, particularly if you have them written down. This will help you remember your symptoms and give your doctor a complete picture about how they impact you. You may also bring old records such as old report cards or performance evaluations. These documents can help your doctor determine whether ADHD is a new issue or has been present for a long time. They can also assist your doctor to rule out other problems like depression or anxiety that often exhibit the same symptoms as ADHD.
History
In the past, ADHD has been viewed as a flaw in the character of a person. With the advancements in diagnosis and treatment more children are being diagnosed and the stigma surrounding this disorder is diminishing.
In 1902 Sir George Frederick Still presented a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians. He outlined his observations of children who were inattentive and incapable of focusing. He also noted that these symptoms were more prevalent in boys than in girls and were not related to intelligence or the environment in which they lived. Still's report has been credited as the first official recognition of ADHD.
The first version of APA's psychotherapy guideline, published in 1952, didn't include ADHD. But in 1955 the US FDA approved stimulant drugs that was the most commonly used treatment for ADHD. The APA published its second edition in 1968. It listed several mental health conditions. It also included symptoms of ADHD even though they were still referred to as hyperkinetic reactions of childhood.
After the publication of the fourth edition of the psychiatric manual in 1994, there was increased 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 recognizes these as manifestations rather than distinct types and says that they may change over the course of a person's life.
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) released guidelines on ADHD in adults in 2008. This was the first time 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 guidance on ADHD in children. These two documents are the sole official NHS recommendations on the condition in Scotland. Private organisations and charities have also produced guidance. 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 may help to create better, more targeted treatments in the near future.
Physical Exam
A specialist in ADHD conducts an extensive assessment to establish an assessment and diagnose. Whether they are a physician who specializes in mental health (such as psychologist or psychiatrist) or a doctor educated in the field of child and youth health (a paediatrician) They will need to collect a range of details about the patient's life including the family, educational, work and social history. They will go through old school records and may interview 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 symptoms have changed with time.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, lays out the criteria used to diagnose ADHD in both 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. The specialist will usually interview the patient about their symptoms with a questionnaire that is tailored to the specific circumstance. They will also use various rating scales that look at different aspects of 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 number of other criteria. They also include questions like "Do you find it difficult to sitting down?" Do you struggle to organize your work or activities?
They will conduct an examination of the body. They will look for medical conditions that could be contributing to the symptoms or making them worse, such as thyroid dysfunction or hearing or vision issues. They will also ask the person about their diet and lifestyle habits in order to determine if they could contribute to symptoms.
If a person is assessed for ADHD in adulthood, they will be asked to complete a questionnaire together with their partner or a close family member. This can help uncover the personal insights that checklists and questionnaires are not able to provide. This can be particularly useful for people suffering from comorbid conditions like anxiety or depression that often co-occur with ADHD and make the symptoms harder to identify.
Psychological Evaluation
If a health care professional who is evaluating a child or adult for ADHD begins by interviewing them, they ask a series of questions about how the symptoms impact their daily lives. They also look into a patient's family history and their mental health.
They can request an original copy of the student's report cards or school records, specifically those from kindergarten through high school. They can also request copies of any previous psychological or neuropsychological tests, including the results of IQ tests and assessments for learning disabilities.
Typically an audiologist, psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker will conduct the interview part of an evaluation of the severity of adhd. They might also interview friends, family members as well as teachers or employers. It is crucial to conduct thorough evaluations because those with untreated ADHD can experience serious problems that include financial problems (impulsive spending) and marital problems, as well as failure at college or other educational institutions.
During the interview, a doctor will often request that the patient complete standardized behavior rating scales designed to help identify ADHD symptoms. These questionnaires are based on research that compares the behaviors of those suffering from ADHD with those of those who do not suffer from the disorder. These ratings do not constitute an official diagnosis of ADHD but are an important element of the evaluation process.
It is also crucial to examine the patient for any other medical conditions that may have similar symptoms to ADHD, such as sleep disorders, mood disorders, substance use disorders and medical conditions, like head injuries or thyroid disease. Those conditions are more likely to respond to certain treatments, so it is crucial to make sure that a valid diagnosis is made and that the right treatment is offered.
A child or adult must meet the requirements of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to be diagnosed with ADHD. They must exhibit symptomatic behavior in two or more environments such as school, home, and work, and the symptoms must seriously affect their everyday functioning. The symptoms must first be noticed in childhood, and a psychiatric professional must confirm that the disorder was not caused by an illness of the mind or other concomitant conditions.