ADHD Screening Test - The First Step to Diagnosing ADHD
If you think that your child has ADHD the first step is to make an appointment to get a diagnosis. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the only way to comprehend and treat the condition.
During your examination during an evaluation, your doctor will ask you questions about your health and development going back to the early years of childhood. They might also employ behavior rating scales as well as symptom checklists.
Symptoms
The first step in identifying ADHD is to collect as many details about the individual as is possible. This could include a physical exam as well as obtaining medical and school records, or interviewing family members, close friends or teachers. It is also important to rule out other conditions that can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD such as thyroid problems seizures, seizures, and other types of anxiety disorders.
The doctor will be interested in knowing how the symptoms affected the patient's life. You could ask if the person has trouble working through tasks or is easily distracted. If they are often late for work or social events, they may also struggle with time management, or lose things frequently. The doctor could inquire if the symptoms began before the age of 12.
Psychiatrists and psychologists are trained to recognize ADHD in adults and children. They employ standardized diagnostic criteria, as laid out by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to determine if the symptoms meet the criteria needed for an ADHD diagnosis. The DSM-5 defines the main categories of ADHD as inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. In order to be diagnosed with ADHD, a person must show six or more symptoms in one of the categories for a minimum of six months.
It is crucial to understand that a diagnosis of ADHD is not a denial. Many people with ADHD have mild symptoms and they can learn to manage their symptoms through the use of medications, therapy and healthy lifestyle practices.
The most commonly used medication to treat ADHD is stimulant. It comes in many different forms, including tablets and liquids. A doctor can prescribe the right medication and dosage for the patient. They are also in a position to provide advice on healthier lifestyle habits that can improve the symptoms of ADHD such as regular exercise and making sure that the patient gets enough sleep. In some cases, nonstimulant drugs like antidepressants could be used to treat ADHD.
Diagnosis
A screening test for ADHD is the first step to a correct diagnosis. The best way to determine if you have ADHD is to schedule an evaluation with a clinician. A psychologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist can all provide an ADHD evaluation.
Before making a diagnoses your mental health professional will go over American Psychiatric Association clinical guidelines for the disorder that are found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). They will interview you or your child regarding symptoms that have remained for at minimum six months. They will also review your child's or your own family medical and psychiatric histories.
You may ask a spouse or other family member to provide details about the person's symptoms. This helps the mental healthcare professional to gain a complete picture of the person's behavior and ADHD experience. The clinician will also interview the person and use standardized ADHD behaviour rating scales.
It is crucial for the mental health professional to recognize that other conditions can mimic ADHD symptoms. Therefore, they need to exclude other conditions such as thyroid problems or seizures before determining if one suffers from ADHD.
In some instances, mental health professionals may recommend a physical examination. This is crucial for adults since certain medical conditions can cause the same symptoms as ADHD.
After the mental health specialist has established the diagnosis, they will explain how it is most likely caused by neurological disorders such as hypothalamus that is overactive or underactive, genetic predisposition and environmental factors like poor diet, alcohol abuse and stress.
The mental health professional will then discuss the options for treatment. The right combination of treatments can help many people manage their ADHD symptoms and lead an active life. Some people can get accommodations at their workplaces or schools, like the ability to take tests privately or take a break during class. This can make life easier.
Treatment
Finding out the diagnosis is the first step in taking control of ADHD symptoms that can cause serious issues at school, work or at home. Treatment includes medication and therapy. Therapy can help people learn better time management skills and also develop strategies to improve their organization by using daily planners or lists. A therapist can help teach social skills and emotional regulation. If a child has coexisting conditions such as depression or anxiety, therapy could help with those as well.
The health professional who is conducting the examination will ask a series of questions and will conduct a neuropsychological psychological test. These tests evaluate the performance of an individual with those with similar ages. These tests can tell the severity of a person's condition, whether they suffer from an intellectual disorder or other disorders that may be co-existent or have a similar appearance to ADHD. The specialist could give the person questionnaires and interview other adults, such as babysitters or teachers, to obtain a complete picture of the person's behavior, problems and routines.
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. The specialist may also review old school records in order to determine if a person had problems as a child. Adults have a difficult remembering their difficulties from childhood, but under current diagnostic guidelines, the disorder can't be diagnosed if symptoms didn't occur frequently in more than one setting before the age of 12.
Before beginning any treatment, a physician might check to determine if there are any medical issues that could be causing ADHD symptoms or making them worse. These might include thyroid problems or seizures, which can exhibit similar symptoms as ADHD. A medical exam could include a hearing or vision test. The expert may also interview the person’s parents or other relatives, and discuss their problems at school or work.
Medication
ADHD is treated most often by using stimulants, like amphetamine and methylphenidate. They increase the levels of chemical in the brain called neurotransmitters that regulate attention and movement. As long as stimulants are used as prescribed, research has shown that they reduce the risk of kids with ADHD abusing drugs and having other issues. It is important to be aware that stimulants can cause side effects. These include a decreased appetite or difficulty sleeping, and lung or heart problems.
Doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medicines like atomoxetine or Guanfacine. They work slower than stimulants and are more secure in some people who have certain health issues or are unable to take stimulants due to unpleasant side effects, like anxiety and ringing in the ear or changes in vision or lung and heart function. They may also be beneficial in treating tic disorders, such as Tourette syndrome. Certain antidepressants, including SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and bupropion, are also used to treat ADHD. However, they haven't been specifically approved by the FDA for this use and may interact with stimulants.
It has been shown that other medications, including those used to treat high-blood pressure, may also help to reduce ADHD symptoms. They have not been studied as thoroughly as stimulants.
Adults typically respond better to a combination of medications, behavior therapy, and skills training. Adults who undergo this combination treatment report feeling more at ease with their symptoms and able manage them.
Ask your doctor or mental health provider to refer you to an expert if you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from symptoms of ADHD. where can i get tested for adhd can also call a university-based hospital or medical or graduate school for recommendations, or look on your insurance plan's list of specialists by specialty.
If you're an adult, you can take a self-assessment test to determine if you be suffering from ADHD. The American College of Psychiatrists' online Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale is a simple checklist that will help you determine whether you have symptoms of ADHD.