What is an ADHD Assessment?
If you or your child has symptoms of ADHD, your doctor is likely to want to talk with you. The doctor might ask questions about your family and health history. He or she might also inquire about the schooling of your child. He or she will talk to your child's teachers, coaches, scout and religious leaders, and other people who know them well.
Symptoms
Find a healthcare professional who has experience diagnosing ADHD If you or someone you love thinks they might be suffering from it. Ask your family doctor to refer you to a doctor who is an expert in children's mental healthcare. The person doing the evaluation will begin by talking with you about your issues and how they affect your life. They may also ask you questions about your health or work schedule, as well as school and social life. The examiner may ask to see old report cards and performance evaluations at work or school, and other documents.
A thorough assessment of ADHD will also include interviews with the person's family members, teachers, and other adults who interact with them. The examiner will use various ratings scales and questionnaires to assess the person's ADHD as well as standardized testing used in school evaluations. They will also require you to provide examples of how you act in various situations. They will compare your behavior to the DSM V ADHD criteria -hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive.
The evaluator will also check whether the person's ADHD affects their daily functioning. They will also determine if the symptoms are more severe than is expected for their age and developmental level. They will evaluate the symptoms of a particular person to those of other people in similar situations. For instance, their classmates at school or on the same 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. The symptoms must be causing significant impairments in at least two different areas of their lives. For children, this could typically result in problems with their schoolwork and relationships with their parents and siblings. Adults could lose their job if they have trouble paying attention or keeping track of their bills and paperwork.
The evaluator could also talk to people who are familiar with the person, such as family members and friends or scout or religious leaders. They will be interested in knowing what the person's behavior is in various situations, such as at home and other places beyond school or work.
Diagnosis
To be able to be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least six characteristics (symptoms) that started prior to the age of 12. These symptoms must also be present for at least six consecutive months. The symptoms must also interfere with your ability to function at home, school, or at work. The symptoms can not be caused by any other mental disorder. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist to conduct an assessment. You can download a help letter from ADHD UK to give to your GP or print the quotes from the NICE 87 guidelines that describe the reasons you should undergo an assessment.
Your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and how they affect your life. They will also ask about your family history and social background, and your educational and work history. They may ask for your old school records as well as interview teachers or other people who knew you as a kid. The examiner will attempt to rule out other possible explanations for your symptoms, and may recommend that you undergo neuropsychological testing or other diagnostic tests.
A thorough assessment can take several hours. Adults may have to make more than one appointment with their doctor to complete the process. The evaluator will discuss the results and suggest possible treatments with you.
You might have either the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive types of ADHD. The type of ADHD that is inattentive is characterised by difficulties paying attention and remaining focused as well as a tendency to forget or a lack of organizational 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.
A few adults with ADHD cannot comprehend how their condition affects their lives and relationships. This can lead to financial problems, strained or broken marriages, and parenting problems. During the examination the therapist may speak with both the person suffering from ADHD and their partner or spouse to get a better understanding of how their symptoms affect the relationship. They might have both of you fill out checklists that list your symptoms.
Treatment
A psychiatric evaluation for ADHD usually involves an interview with the person being assessed and their caregivers, completion of questionnaires or rating scales that measure the behaviors of people with ADHD to those of people who don't have it, and standardized tests. The evaluator might also ask teachers to complete questionnaires and examine the reports of the child.
Anyone suffering from symptoms of 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 lose things easily, or if you don't finish tasks. The evaluator wants to know if these symptoms were always present or if they started in the early years of childhood (technically, before the age of 12).
A person must experience significant problems in two or more of the following areas to be diagnosed with ADHD: work and school family relationships, life, or social interactions. Examples of this are being fired from a job, not passing in a class or not paying the bills on time. Mild ADHD symptoms can cause issues, but they are not major disruptions.
There are many things that can cause similar symptoms as those associated with ADHD like physical conditions and stress. A mental health healthcare professional or health care professional will evaluate the person’s mood, medical background and other aspects to rule out the possibility of these.
Behavioral therapy is among the most common treatments for ADHD. It assists people in developing better coping abilities and learn how to manage their symptoms. It may include cognitive behavior therapy, which teaches how to transform negative thoughts into positive thoughts. It also helps reduce the effects of chronic conditions and mental health issues such as depression or substance abuse.
Adults with ADHD can also benefit from marital or couple therapy. It can help them understand their partner and improve communication. It can help their partner learn how to help and deal with someone who has ADHD.
Medication
Medications can help with the hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity that are the hallmarks of ADHD. They are usually prescribed in conjunction with skill training and therapy which can ease symptoms and allow people to perform better at home, school at work, or in their hobbies. Medication is not a panacea and patients should consult with their doctor to understand the best way to manage their ADHD symptoms. It may take a few tries to determine the best combination of medications and dosages, but it is important to remember that there are many options.
A trained specialist will talk to the child, parent, or adult about their experiences with ADHD, paying special attention to behaviors that occur in various environments, such as at school and at home. They will also review the person's educational and occupational background and ask questions about their life as a family. They will usually request performance evaluations from work or old report cards, and will be looking to speak with the person's teachers.
It is important to keep in mind that in order to be diagnosed with ADHD, the person's symptoms must have begun in the earliest years of their life (technically before the age of 12). Therefore, even though experts will only talk about current symptoms when conducting an assessment for diagnosis however, they may need to speak with others who knew the individual as a child, and could even speak with the person's teachers or parents.
ADHD medications typically contain stimulants that are believed to balance and boost levels of brain chemicals known as Neurotransmitters. They are available in different forms including tablets, liquids, and patches. online adhd assessment can cause adverse effects such as trouble sleeping or agitation, as well as a loss of appetite, however they generally considered safe when prescribed by a doctor. Nonstimulants such as atomoxetine or certain antidepressants are also used for ADHD. They tend to be slower-working and have less adverse negative effects, but they are not suitable for all people.
A combination of medications therapy, therapy, as well as behavior changes is the most effective way of treating ADHD symptoms. It's not uncommon for children and adults to take multiple medications and change them over time as their needs change or they experience significant life changes.