ADHD Screening and Evaluation
Screening may help a doctor determine whether symptoms meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. They may do an exam of the body and look over school and medical records to determine whether the symptoms began in the early years of childhood.
They can use rating scales to evaluate the severity of symptoms. They can also interview the person as well as those who are close to them.
ADHD in Children ADHD in Children: Assessment
If you suspect that your child may have ADHD It is essential to consult a health professional who has experience in diagnosing the disorder. A pediatrician is a good option or a psychologist who is specialized in working with children and teens. The school where your child attends may have a psychologist on staff, or you could request references from other parents.
To determine whether a child is suffering from ADHD, the first step is to obtain an accurate medical record, review old school records, then conduct physical examination. The physical exam checks for any health issues that can mimic ADHD symptoms, including vision and hearing problems. Also, it will look for symptoms of thyroid disease which can cause inattentive and/or impulsive behaviors.
A psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker will meet with both the child and his parents. They will ask questions about how the child's behavior affected their lives at home and relationships with family members and their friends. The doctor may use rating scales to help identify symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
They should also know if the child has any food allergies, particularly those to which they are sensitive, that might cause them to be unable to concentrate. The doctor will also need to speak to the child's teachers about their schoolwork and performance. This will give a professional an accurate picture of the child's everyday struggles.
If the child meets all of the criteria for ADHD in DSM-IV, a 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 examine the symptoms of a child with those of other children their age to determine what type they are suffering from. They will also look for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety or learning disorders.
Assessment of ADHD in Adults
If you suspect that you might be suffering from ADHD, a professional evaluation is the best method to diagnose and treat you. There are a variety of online tools that claim to evaluate ADHD symptoms, but these tools should not be used in lieu of a professional assessment. They offer general guidelines and are restricted by the fact they can't take into account your individual situation.
During an assessment, the doctor will ask you about your present problems and how they impact your life. You'll be asked about your childhood. It is believed that you aren't diagnosed with ADHD at the age of adulthood when your symptoms weren't evident regularly during the early years of your life (technically before the age of 12). The doctor may request documents from school or ask to talk to your parents, teachers or anyone else who knew you well as when you were a child.
They'll also likely ask to see any performance evaluations you may have from work as well as copies of any previous psychological tests you might have taken. If you have old report cards, they may ask you to bring them along. These often contain teacher comments that could be a sign that you was always in motion or had trouble paying attention. They might request that you bring an acquaintance or loved one who is familiar with your life and they will be able to question them about your behavior. This is not an attempt to verify your honesty, but rather to obtain additional information from a third-party.
The professional will be looking for signs that could be affecting your life. This could include losing your job if are impulsive or getting into financial trouble if you are unable to concentrate. 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 assessments might include the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, version 1.1 or its counterpart that is rated by observers CAARS-L: O. 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 includes the same items and ratings scale but requires an observer to rate your symptoms.
Even if you are embarrassed or ashamed, it's important to answer the questions honestly during an ADHD assessment. Click That Link of the evaluation and its accuracy will be influenced by how much information you provide. The specialist will also need to determine if your symptoms are due to another health issue like thyroid issues or seizures. This will enable them to determine the best treatment option. The specialist will also conduct a physical exam, which may include a blood test to measure levels of certain chemicals in the brain, which could be low in people with ADHD.
Assessment of ADHD in Adolescents
ADHD symptoms can impact school performance and social interactions in the adolescent phase of life. These issues can have a negative effect on a child's self-esteem and can cause anxiety or depression.
A trained professional can assist children find ways to overcome the difficulties of ADHD by implementing behavioral therapy and medication. A child who has ADHD who is receiving treatment often performs better at school and in other aspects of their life.
Finding the right health professional is the first step to assessing ADHD in teens. This can be done by asking the child's doctor for recommendations or by looking for a specialist with expertise in treating children with ADHD. The school of the child may have someone on staff who can evaluate the child, or a mental health professional is recommended by a pediatrician or a family doctor.
During the interview, a health care professional will speak to the teen, asking questions about their home and school life, as well as other activities like hobbies and sports. A complete evaluation includes information from other caregivers like parents guardians, teachers, religious leaders, coaches, and others who are in direct contact with the teenager. It is crucial to obtain accurate information from several sources as a sign of a disorder could show up differently in different settings.
If the teen meets DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, the health care provider can begin to look into 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 should be present in at least two settings, including at home, at school, or at work. The symptoms must impact daily functioning and cannot be explained by other condition.
In addition to a clinical interview, a health professional may also use neuropsychological tests to assess the teen for ADHD. These tests can include the Continuous Performance Test and the QbTest. These tests assess the ability of teenagers to follow directions and make correct judgements as well as keep track of information. They also examine the speed at which a teenager responds and the amount of head movements he or performs during the test. According to research that have been conducted, objective measures are more reliable in identifying ADHD than the subjective ratings of informants.