ADHD Diagnosis - How an Expert Makes a Diagnosis
For adults who are diagnosed with the disorder, identifying ADHD requires a thorough assessment by a specialist who is trained in the disorder. They'll likely ask questions about your medical history and conduct an examination of your body. They'll also rule out conditions which may be similar to ADHD like mood disorders, learning disorders or thyroid conditions.
The doctor will also ask about your childhood habits because the current American Psychiatric Association guidelines state that adults with ADHD cannot be diagnosed without evidence of signs from childhood. This includes obtaining school records and contacting former teachers, religious leaders, or coaches.
Symptoms
If you or a loved one is struggling to keep up at school, work or at home, and has difficulties remembering important dates and appointments, or is struggling to stay organized or stay on top of things, you could be suffering from ADHD. A health care professional's assessment can help you determine whether this is the case, and if so, what treatment options there are.
To be eligible for an ADHD diagnosis, the symptoms have to be present for at least 6 months and be apparent in at minimum two different environments (school and at home, as an example). The symptoms should also be impacting your ability to perform for example, in class, in developing close relationships or working in a team. It's crucial to understand that everyone has difficulty staying organized and paying attention at times, but these issues are more severe in the case of ADHD.
In order to make a diagnosis, your provider will conduct an interview and ask questions about your behavior and how it has affected your life. The doctor will also look over your family history as well as any past medical or psychological tests you've taken. They will look for health issues, like thyroid disorders and seizure disorder, which can cause similar symptoms as ADHD.
Your provider will want to know if your symptoms started in your early years (technically at the age of 12). Your doctor will also want to know how your symptoms are affecting you now and in the past. They'll also be looking to find out if you've ever been diagnosed with ADHD before.
It's a good idea to bring your own list of symptoms to the appointment, especially when you've written them down. This will help you remember the symptoms and provide your doctor with a a complete picture of how your symptoms affect you. You may also bring in old records, such as old report cards or performance evaluations. Having these documents can help your doctor determine if ADHD has been a problem for you throughout your entire life or if it started in recent times. These documents can help your doctor determine if there are other issues, such as depression and anxiety that have similar symptoms as ADHD.
History
In the past, ADHD has been viewed as a flaw in the character of a person. With advances in diagnosis and treatment, more children are diagnosed and the stigma surrounding the disorder is slowly fading.
In 1902, Sir George Frederick Still presented a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians. He outlined his observations regarding children who were unfocused or unable to concentrate. He also observed that these symptoms were more common in boys than in girls and were unrelated to the home environment or intelligence. Still's report has been credited with being the beginning of 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 that were used as the primary treatment for ADHD. The APA published its second edition in 1968, and included a variety of mental health issues. The second edition of the APA's manual included a variety of mental health conditions, including ADHD symptoms.
In 1994, the fourth edition of the psychiatric book was released. This led to a greater 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 defines these as different types of presentations and says that they may change over the course of a person's life.
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 formally recognized with support from healthcare as well as guidance and funding for adults who had 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 issued guidance. In recent times, there has been a growing interest in the biological causes of ADHD and researchers have begun to discover the genes that cause it. This knowledge could help in the future to create more targeted and effective treatments.
Physical Exam
A specialist in ADHD will conduct a thorough assessment to determine the severity of the condition. They will collect information from the patient's past, including their family, education and employment history as well as social and personal. They will go through old school records and interview coaches, teachers, and other professionals who know the person. They will ask questions 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 guidelines for diagnosing 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. The doctor will usually talk to the person regarding their symptoms using an assessment that is adapted to the specific situation. They will also use different rating scales to evaluate different aspects ADHD symptoms. Some of these ratings will be based on the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale For Adults. Other ratings will be based on different criteria, such as "Do you find it difficult to sit still?" and "Do you struggle to organize your activities or work?"
They will conduct a physical exam. They will determine if there are any medical conditions that could be contributing to the symptoms or causing them to get worse, like thyroid dysfunction or vision or hearing issues. They will also inquire with the person about their diet and lifestyle habits in order to determine if these may be contributing to symptoms.
If a person is evaluated for ADHD in adulthood and is being evaluated for ADHD, they will be asked to fill out a questionnaire together with their partner or a close friend. This provides a deeper understanding of the person that checklists and questionnaires can't 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 identify.
Psychological Evaluation
A health professional who is evaluating a child for ADHD will ask them a series questions about the symptoms and how they affect their daily life. They also go over the patient's mental health as well as family history.
They may ask for an original copy of the student's reports or school records, particularly those from kindergarten through high school. They may request copies of any previous psychological or neuropsychological tests which include IQ tests and results from assessments for learning disabilities.
Typically, a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker is the person who conducts the interview portion in an adhd diagnosis evaluation. They may also interview family members, friends as well as teachers or employers. It is crucial to have a a comprehensive assessment because people who suffer from ADHD who are not treated may face serious issues. These could include financial issues (impulsive purchases) or marital issues, or failure to attend colleges or other educational institutions.
During the interview, a doctor will typically ask the patient to complete standardized behavior rating scales designed to help identify ADHD symptoms. These questionnaires are based on research that compares the behaviors of people suffering from ADHD and those without the disorder. These ratings are not the diagnosis of ADHD but are an important element of the assessment process.
It is also important to check the person for other ailments that may exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD, such as mood disorders, sleep disorders, substance use disorders and medical conditions, like head injuries or thyroid disease. These conditions are more likely than others to respond to certain treatments. It is therefore crucial to determine the correct diagnosis and to get the appropriate treatment.
adult diagnosis of adhd or adult must meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to be diagnosed with ADHD. They must display symptoms in more than one setting like school, home and at work, and the symptoms must be affecting their life functioning. The symptoms must have appeared in childhood and a psychiatrist must confirm that the disorder wasn't caused by a mental illness or comorbid conditions.