ADHD Screening and Evaluation
Screening can help a doctor determine if the symptoms meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. They can conduct a physical examination and review medical documents and school records to determine if the symptoms started in childhood.
They may employ rating scales to determine the severity of symptoms. They may also interview the patient as well as those who are close to them.
ADHD in Children: Assessment
If you suspect that your child might be suffering from ADHD It is crucial to consult a health professional with experience diagnosing the disorder. A psychologist that specializes in children and adolescents or an pediatrician is a good option. The school where your child attends may have a psychologist on staff or you could ask other parents for references.
The first step in assessing the child's risk of developing ADHD is to get an entire medical history, examine old school records and performance reports, and do a physical exam. The physical exam checks for certain health conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as hearing and vision problems. It will also check for signs of thyroid issues that can lead to uncontrollable or impulsive behavior.
A psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker will interview both the child and his parents. They will ask questions about how the child's behavior has affected their family life and their relationships with family and friends. The doctor may use rating scales to help identify symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
They should also be aware of if the child has any allergies, especially foods that could make it hard for them to concentrate. The doctor should talk to the child's teacher about their schoolwork and performance. This will give a professional a good idea of the child's daily struggles.
If the child meets all of the criteria for ADHD in DSM-IV the diagnosis is possible. In addition, the doctor will often assess whether the child has the combined type of ADHD or just inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive. Experts will compare the symptoms of a child with those of children who are similar to their age to determine what type they are suffering from. They will also look for other conditions that could cause the same symptoms, like anxiety or learning disorders.
Assessment of ADHD in Adults
If you think you might be suffering from ADHD, a professional evaluation is the best method to diagnose and treat you. Online tools that claim to measure ADHD symptoms are available but they shouldn't substitute for a professional assessment. They can only give general advice and do not consider the individual situations of each individual.
During the examination, you will be asked about your current problems and how they affect your life. They'll also inquire about your childhood experiences. According to current thinking it is not possible to be diagnosed as ADHD at the age of adulthood when symptoms didn't manifest regularly during the early years of your life (technically prior to age 12). The doctor will request documents from your school or speak to your teachers, parents or anyone else who had contact with you as a kid.
You'll likely be requested to bring any previous assessments of your performance and psychological tests from your previous job. They may ask you to bring back old report cards if you are able to locate them, as they typically include comments from teachers that might indicate whether you were unable to focus or were constantly in a hurry. They may also ask you to bring along a friend or spouse who is familiar with your life to talk to them about your conduct. This isn't an attempt to verify your honesty, but rather to gather additional information from a reliable source.
The professional will be looking for signs that are impacting your life. For example, this might be a case of losing your job because you're not attentive or running into financial trouble because of your impulsive nature. It could also be a serious problem in relationships caused by your inability to wait for your turn or difficulty listening to others.
Other tests include the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (version 1.1) or its counterpart CAARS-L-O, which is scored by an observer. The former assesses 18 symptoms of ADHD that reflect the diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV-TR and is divided into two main symptom domains, inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. The second version contains the same items, but asks an observer to rate symptoms.
Even if you're uncomfortable or embarrassed it is essential to answer the questions honestly in an ADHD assessment. The amount of information you provide will affect the accuracy and validity of your assessment. The doctor will determine if your symptoms are due to another health issue, such as thyroid problems or seizures. This will help them make the best recommendation for treatment. The specialist will also perform physical examinations and may also conduct the testing of blood to assess levels in the brain of certain chemicals that are not present in people suffering from ADHD.
Assessment of ADHD in adolescents
In the adolescent period of life, signs of ADHD can affect school performance and social interaction. These problems can have a negative impact on a child's self-esteem and lead to depression or anxiety.
A qualified professional can help an individual child overcome the challenges of ADHD by using behavioral therapy and medication. Children who suffer from ADHD who receive treatment tend to do better in school, as well as other areas of their lives.
Finding the right health professional is the first step in assessing ADHD in teenagers. The child's doctor can provide recommendations, or looking for an expert with experience treating children suffering from ADHD could be beneficial. A mental health specialist may be on staff at the child's school or a pediatrician could suggest one.
In a clinical interview the health care professional will inquire with the teenager about his or her school and home life and other activities like sports and hobbies. A thorough evaluation will include information from other caregivers, like parents or guardians teachers, religious, scout leaders, coaches and others who have direct contact with the teenager. It is essential to collect precise information from multiple sources, as symptoms may appear different in different environments.
If the teenager meets the requirements for ADHD based on DSM-5, the health care professional can begin to consider a diagnosis. This includes a symptom of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity that starts at least 6 months before the evaluation and is inappropriate for the child's developmental level. The symptoms must be evident in at least two settings that include at home, at school, or at work. The symptoms must be disruptive to everyday functioning and cannot be explained by another disorder.
The health care provider may also conduct tests for neuropsychological disorders to assess the teenager's ADHD. These tests can include the Continuous Performance Test and the QbTest. These tests evaluate the capacity of teenagers to follow directions and make correct judgements as well as keep track of details. They also assess the speed at which a teenager responds and the amount of head movements that he or is able to make during the test. According to research the objective tests are more reliable in identifying ADHD than subjective informant ratings.