ADHD Screening Test - The First Step to Diagnosing ADHD
The first step to take if think your child or you might have ADHD is to set up an appointment to have a diagnostic evaluation. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the only way to comprehend and treat the condition.
During the examination during an evaluation, your doctor will ask you questions regarding your health and development prior to the early years of childhood. They may also use symptom checklists and scales for assessing behavior.
Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD for the first time, you must collect as much information as possible about the person. This could include an exam for physical examination, collecting health and school records or speaking with family members as well as teachers, coworkers, and other close friends. It is essential to determine if there are any other conditions that may cause symptoms similar to ADHD like seizures, thyroid disorders and certain types of anxiety disorders.
The doctor will want to know how the symptoms have affected the patient's daily life. This may include asking questions like whether they struggle to finish tasks or become easily distracted, if they often lose things, struggle with time management or are always being late for work or social events. The doctor could inquire if the symptoms began before the age of 12.
Psychiatrists, psychologists and some physicians are trained in diagnosing ADHD in adults and children. They use standard diagnostic criteria, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to determine if symptoms satisfy the criteria needed for an ADHD diagnosis. The DSM-5 defines the main categories of ADHD as inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. To be diagnosed with ADHD, a person must have six or more symptoms in one of the categories for at least six months.
It is important to note that the diagnosis of ADHD is not a reason to be scolding. Many people with ADHD have mild symptoms and they can learn how to manage their symptoms through the use of therapy, medications and healthy lifestyle habits.
Stimulants are the most commonly used treatment for ADHD. It comes in a variety of forms such as tablets and liquids. A doctor can determine the best dosage and medication for the patient. They can also provide suggestions on healthy lifestyles which can improve the symptoms of ADHD, such as regular exercise and getting enough sleep. In some instances, non-stimulant medications such as antidepressants can be prescribed to treat ADHD.
Diagnosis
A screening test for ADHD is the first step in obtaining a correct diagnosis. The best method to determine whether you suffer from ADHD is to schedule a clinical evaluation. A psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist could all offer an ADHD assessment.
Before making a diagnosis your mental health professional will study the American Psychiatric Society's clinical guidelines for the disorder found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). They will ask you or your child if symptoms have been present for at least six month. They will also review your child's medical, psychiatric, and family medical history.
You could ask your spouse or a family member to provide details about the person's symptoms. This will help the mental health professional to build a complete picture of the person's behavior as well as their experience with ADHD. The doctor will also interview the person and use standardized ADHD behaviour rating scales.
It is essential that the mental health professional knows that other disorders can resemble ADHD symptoms. Therefore, they must also rule out other disorders such as thyroid problems or seizures before determining whether one suffers from ADHD.
In some cases, a mental health professional will suggest a physical exam. This is especially important in adults, because some medical conditions can trigger the similar symptoms as ADHD.
Once the mental health professional has made a diagnosis, they will explain how it is most likely caused by neurological issues like an underactive or overactive hypothalamus or genetic predisposition, as well as environmental factors like inadequate diet, addiction to substances and stress.
The mental health professional talks about treatment options. For many people choosing the right combination of treatments lets them manage their ADHD symptoms and live their lives to the fullest. Some people can get accommodations in their workplaces and schools, like the ability to take tests in private or have an extended break during classes. This makes life much easier.
Treatment
Finding out the diagnosis is the first step towards controlling ADHD symptoms that can lead to serious problems at work, school, or home. Medication and therapy are essential to the treatment. Therapy can help a person improve their time management skills and devise strategies for improving their organization, such as daily planners or list. Therapists can help teach social skills and emotional regulation. If a child suffers from co-existing issues, like anxiety or depression, counseling can help with these too.
The health care professional conducting the examination may ask a series of questions and then conduct a psychological or neuropsychological exam. These tests evaluate the performance of a person with those of typical people with similar age. These tests can tell whether a person suffers from a learning disorder or other disorders that might be related to or resemble ADHD. The specialist could give the patient a questionnaire, and also interview other adults such as teachers or babysitters to get more information about their behavior, problems, and habits.
For adults, health care professionals use the same criteria for diagnosing ADHD as they do for children: six or more established symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. private adhd test may also wish to look over the school records of the past to determine if the person had trouble in childhood. Adults can have trouble remembering their childhood issues. However, according to current diagnostic guidelines the disorder is not able to be diagnosed when symptoms didn't occur regularly more than once before the age of 12.
Before starting any treatment, a doctor will determine if there are any medical conditions that could be causing the ADHD symptoms or making them worse. This could include thyroid issues or seizures, which may have similar symptoms to ADHD. A medical exam could include a vision or hearing test. The expert might also conduct an emotional or psychological history, talk to the person's parents or other family members, and discuss the person's problems at school or at work.
Medication
Stimulants, such as methylphenidate or amphetamine - are the most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD. They increase the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain which control attention and movements. As long as stimulants are prescribed, studies show that they reduce the risk of children with ADHD taking drugs and developing other problems. It is essential to know that stimulants can have side effects. These include a decreased appetite or trouble sleeping and heart or lung problems.
Doctors also may prescribe non-stimulant medications, such as atomoxetine or guanfacine. They work slower than stimulants, and are less harmful in some people who have particular health issues or who are unable to use stimulants due to undesirable side effects, like anxiety and ringing in the ear, or changes in vision or the function of the heart and lungs. They may also be beneficial in treating tic disorders like Tourette syndrome. Some antidepressants, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and bupropion are also used to treat ADHD. These medications aren't FDA approved for this purpose, and could be incompatible with stimulants.
Other forms of medication- including some that are used to treat high blood pressure- also have been shown to reduce symptoms of ADHD. However, they have not been studied as extensively as stimulants.
Adults usually respond best to a combination of medications as well as behavior therapy and skills training. Adults who receive this combination treatment feel more in control of their symptoms and able manage these.
Ask your physician or mental health professional to refer you to an expert if you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from symptoms of ADHD. You can also contact the hospital of a university or medical or graduate school for recommendations, or check your insurance plan's list of providers by specialty.
If you're an adult, you may try a self-assessment survey to determine if you be suffering from ADHD. The American College of Psychiatrists' online Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale is a simple checklist that can help determine whether you are suffering from ADHD.