ADHD Screening and Evaluation
A screening test can help a doctor determine if symptoms meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. They may perform physical examinations and look over medical documents and school records to determine if symptoms started in childhood.
They can use scales to rate the severity of symptoms. They can also conduct interviews with the person and those close to them.
Assessment of ADHD in Children
If you think your child may have ADHD it is essential to find a medical specialist who is skilled in diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A pediatrician is a good choice, or a psychologist who specializes in children and adolescents. You can seek references from other parents or the staff at the school where your child is.
The first step in evaluating the child's risk of developing ADHD is to collect an entire medical history, look over old records and school performance reports, and do an examination. The physical exam will look for any health issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms, including hearing and vision problems. Also, it will look for signs of thyroid disease, which can lead to inattention or impulsive behavior.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker will talk to both the child and his parents. They will ask questions about how the child's behavior 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 will also inquire whether there are any allergies in the child, particularly food allergies that can cause them to be unable to focus. The doctor will also want to speak to the child's teacher about their performance and schoolwork. This will give a professional insight into the child's daily struggles.
A diagnosis is given if the child is in compliance with the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. In addition, the doctor will often assess whether the child has the combined type of ADHD or just inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive. Experts will examine the symptoms of a child with those of other children their age to determine which subtype they are suffering from. They will also search for other conditions that could cause the same symptoms for example, anxiety or learning disorders.
Assessment of ADHD in Adults
If you suspect you have ADHD or other disorders, a test by a professional is the best method to obtain the correct diagnosis and treatment. There are many online tools that claim to evaluate ADHD symptoms however, these tools should not be used in lieu of an evaluation by a specialist. They offer general guidance, but are limited by the fact that they can't take into account your individual situation.
During the evaluation, the doctor will ask you about your current problems and how they impact your life. You'll be asked about your childhood. It is believed that you cannot be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult if your symptoms didn't appear frequently in your the early years of your life (technically before the age of 12). The doctor will request the records of your school or speak to your teachers, parents, or anyone else who had contact with you as a kid.
You'll likely be asked to bring any previous assessments of your performance and psychological tests from your work. They might ask you to bring back old report cards if you are able to find them, since they typically include comments from teachers which could reveal that you struggled to pay attention or were always on the go. You might be asked to bring a friend or a partner who is familiar with you to interview them on your behavior. This is not a way to check your honesty, but to gather additional information from a third party.
The expert will be looking for signs that are impacting your life. This could mean losing your job if are impulsive, or causing financial problems if you don't focus. It could also be a serious problem in relationships due to your inability to wait for your turn, or having trouble listening to other people.
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 latter has the same items and rating scale but requires an observer to assess your symptoms.
It is essential to answer all of the questions on an ADHD assessment honestly even if you are embarrassed or ashamed. The quality of the evaluation and its accuracy will be influenced by the amount of details you provide. The doctor will also need to determine if your symptoms are due to other health issues like thyroid issues or seizures. This will allow them to make the most appropriate recommendations for treatment. The doctor will also conduct a physical exam that could include an examination of the blood to determine the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that could be insufficient in people suffering from ADHD.
Assessment of ADHD in adolescents
In the adolescent phase of life, the signs of ADHD can affect school performance and social interaction. These issues can have a negative impact on a child's self-esteem, and cause anxiety or depression.
A trained professional can assist the child to overcome the difficulties of ADHD by implementing a behavioral therapy and medication. A child who has ADHD who is receiving treatment usually performs better in school, as well as in other areas of their lives.
Finding the right health professional is the first step to conducting a thorough assessment of ADHD in teens. This can be done by contacting the child's doctor for recommendations or by looking for a specialist with had experience treating children suffering from ADHD. The child's school might have a staff member who can evaluate the child or a mental health specialist is recommended by a pediatrician or a family doctor.
During the interview, a health care professional will speak to the teen and inquire about their school and family lives, as well other activities such as hobbies and sports. A complete assessment will include information from other caregivers, like parents or guardians, teachers, religious and scout leaders, coaches and others who are in direct contact with the teenager. It is important to collect reliable information from multiple sources because a symptom may show up differently in different environments.
If the teen is found to meet the criteria for ADHD in accordance with DSM-5, the health care provider can start to think about the possibility of 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 person must have the symptoms in two or more environments, like at home and at school or on the job. The symptoms must interfere with the daily activities of the person and cannot be explained by any other disorder.
The health care provider may also conduct neuropsychological tests to determine the teen's ADHD. These tests may include the Continuous Performance Test and the QbTest. These tests assess the ability of teens to follow instructions, make accurate judgements and keep track details. The tests also measure the teen's reaction speed and head movements during the test. Research suggests that objective tests improve the accuracy of diagnosing ADHD more than subjective information ratings.