What is an ADHD Assessment?
Your doctor may talk to you whether or not your child exhibits signs of ADHD. He or she might ask questions about your family and health background. He or she might also inquire about the schooling of your child. They might talk to teachers or scout and religious leaders as well as coaches and other people who know your child well.
Signs and symptoms
If you or someone you know thinks they may have ADHD the first step in obtaining an evaluation is to find an expert in the field who has experience diagnosing the condition. Request your family physician to refer you to a doctor who is an expert in the field of mental health for children. The person doing the evaluation will begin by talking to you about your symptoms and how they impact your life. They may also ask questions regarding your health, work, school and social life. The examiner may ask to see your old report cards and performance evaluations at work or school, and other documents.
Interviews with family members, teachers and other adults will be a part of a full assessment. The examiner will employ a variety of questionnaires and rating systems to evaluate the person's ADHD, including standard testing used in school evaluations. They will also require you to give examples of how you behave in different situations. They will then compare your behavior to the DSM V ADHD criteria -hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.
The evaluator will determine whether the ADHD affects the person's daily functioning. They will determine if their symptoms are significantly more severe than is normal for their age or developmental stage. They will compare the person's problems to the experiences of others in similar situations, for example their peers in school or on a sports team.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, the person must have a significant number of symptoms from both the inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity sections of the criteria. In addition, the symptoms must have led to significant impairment in at least two significant situations in their lives. This will typically mean that children have problems with their schoolwork and their relationships with parents or siblings. For adults, it could result in losing a job because of a lack of attention and having trouble keeping the track of bills or paperwork.
The evaluator may also talk to people who know the person well like relatives, friends as well as religious or scout leaders. They will want to know what the person's behavior is in various situations, including at home, as well as other places beyond school or work.
Diagnosis
You must have at least six traits (symptoms), which began before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present for at least six consecutive months. The symptoms must also get hindering you from functioning well at school, work, and/or home. The symptoms cannot be caused by any other mental disorder. Your doctor can refer you to an expert to have an assessment. You can download a supportive letter from ADHD UK to give to your GP or print out quotes from NICE 87 guidelines that explain why you should have an assessment.
Your doctor will discuss your symptoms and how they impact your life. They will also ask you about your family education, social and academic history. They may ask for your school records from your past and may need to speak with teachers or other people who know you from when you were a kid. The evaluator might try to rule out other explanations for your symptoms and suggest that you undergo neuropsychological testing or diagnostic tests.
A thorough evaluation may take several hours. you can try this out require more than one appointment with their specialist to complete the procedure. The evaluation specialist may discuss the results and suggest possible treatments with you.
You might have either the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive types of ADHD. The ADHD that is inattentive is characterized by difficulty paying attention and staying focused as well as a tendency to forget and/or a lack of organization skills. People with the hyperactive/impulsive type are restless and fidgety, often interrupt conversations or activities, have a hard time waiting for their turn, and may use other people's things without permission.
Some adults with ADHD cannot comprehend how their conditions affect their lives and relationships. This can lead to financial problems and broken or strained marriages, and issues with parenting. During the evaluation the therapist may speak with both the person with ADHD and their partner or spouse to gain an understanding of how their symptoms impact the relationship. You may be asked to fill in checklists of your symptoms.
Treatment
A psychiatric assessment for ADHD typically involves an interview with both the person being evaluated as well as the caregivers for them as well as the completion of rating scales and questionnaires comparing behaviors of people with ADHD and those of people without it, as well as standardized testing. In the case of children, the evaluator might also look at their reports and ask for teachers to fill out questionnaires.
People who suffer from ADHD should be prepared to discuss how their issues affect their work, home, and social life. Expect to be asked how often you interrupt others, if you get lost things easily, and when you are unable to finish tasks. The examiner would like to know if these symptoms were always present or if they first started to manifest in the early years of childhood (technically before the age of 12).
A person has to have significant problems in two or more of the following areas to be diagnosed with ADHD including school and work family relationships or social interactions. Examples of this are getting fired from a job, not passing in a class, or not paying bills on time. People with mild ADHD symptoms may still experience difficulties in certain areas, but they do not experience major disruptions.
There are a myriad of things that can trigger similar symptoms to those experienced by ADHD, including physical conditions and stress. A mental health professional or health care provider will assess the person's mood, medical history, and other aspects to rule these out.
Behavioral therapy is a standard treatment for ADHD. It helps people develop better coping abilities and learn how to manage their symptoms. It could include cognitive behavior therapy, which helps people learn how to transform negative thoughts into positive thoughts. It can also help reduce the effects of conditions that are underlying and mental health issues, such as depression or substance abuse.
Adults with ADHD can also benefit from couples or marital therapy. It can help them appreciate their partner's perspective and improve communication. It can help their partner know how to support and cope with someone with ADHD.
Medication
The use of medication can aid in reducing the inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are the hallmarks of ADHD. They are often prescribed along with therapy and training which can ease symptoms and help people function better at home, school at work or in their leisure activities. However, medications are not an answer to all problems and people should still work with their doctor to understand how to manage their ADHD symptoms. It could take a few tries to find the ideal dosage of medication and dosage. However, it's important to remember that there are a variety of options.
An experienced specialist will speak with the parent, child, or adult about their experiences with ADHD, paying special attention to the behaviors that happen in various environments, such as at school and at home. They will also review the person's educational and occupational history and ask questions about their life as a family. They will ask for old reports or performance evaluations and may also contact the person's school.
It is important to remember that in order to be diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms of the patient must have been present since the earliest years of their life (technically before the age of 12). So, although an expert will only discuss the current symptoms during an assessment for diagnosis however, they may have to talk with other people who knew the child and might even talk to the person's parents or teachers.
Treatment for ADHD typically includes stimulants, which appear to boost and balance levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These medications are available in a variety of forms, including tablets, liquids and patches. The stimulants can cause adverse effects such as trouble sleeping or agitation, as well as a loss of appetite, but generally, they are safe when they are prescribed by a doctor. Non-stimulants, like atomoxetine and other antidepressants are also used to treat ADHD. They typically work slower and have fewer side effects, however they are not recommended for all people.
A combination of medications therapy, therapy, and behavioral changes is the most effective way of treating ADHD symptoms. Adults and children may try several medications and change them according to their needs or as their circumstances change.