What is an ADHD Assessment?
If you or your child exhibit symptoms of ADHD, your doctor will want to speak with you. He or she might ask about your family background and health. He or she will also ask about your child's education. They might meet with teachers or scout and religious leaders as well as coaches and others who know your child well.
Symptoms
If you or someone you know thinks they may have ADHD, the first step in obtaining an assessment is to locate an expert in the field who is experienced in diagnosing it. Look for someone who specializes in children's mental health, or ask your family physician for an appointment. The person conducting the assessment will start by talking with you about your issues and how they impact your life. They may also inquire about your work, school, and social life. The examiner will want to look over any records you may have, such as performance evaluations from your job or school, as well as old report cards.
Interviews with family members, teachers, and other adults will form part of a full evaluation. The examiner will use various questions and rating scales to evaluate the person for ADHD and standardized tests used in school evaluations. You will be asked to provide examples of how you behave in different situations. They will evaluate your behavior in relation to the DSM V criteria for ADHD -- hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.
The evaluator also checks whether the person's ADHD affects their daily functioning. They will determine if the symptoms are more severe than what is expected for their age or development. They will evaluate the symptoms of a person with others in similar situations. For example, their classmates at school or on a team.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, the person must have a significant number of symptoms from both the inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity sections of the criteria. The symptoms must also be causing significant impairments in at least two aspects of their lives. For children, this can typically result in problems with their schoolwork and relationships with their parents and siblings. For adults, it may result in losing a job because of a lack of attention and difficulty keeping track of paperwork or bills.
The evaluator will also talk to other people who are familiar with the person such as relatives, friends, as well as religious or scout leaders. They will be looking to find out how the person behaves in various situations, such as at home and other places beyond school or work.
Diagnosis
To be able to be diagnosed with ADHD you must exhibit at least six characteristics (symptoms) that began prior to the age of 12. You must also be suffering from these symptoms continuously for at minimum six months. The symptoms should also interfere with your ability to perform at home, school, or at work. The symptoms can't be caused by another mental health condition. Your doctor can recommend you to a specialist to have an assessment. You can print out quotations from NICE 87 guidelines or download a letter of support from ADHD UK that you can send to your GP.
Your specialist will talk with you about your issues and how they affect your life. They will also ask about your family and social history as well as your education and work history. They might request your school records from the past, and they might want to interview teachers or others who know you from when you were a kid. The examiner may attempt to rule out any other possible explanations of your symptoms and suggest you undergo neuropsychological testing or diagnostic tests.
A thorough evaluation could take several hours. Certain adults may need to attend more than one visit to their specialist in order to complete the process. The evaluator may discuss the results and suggest possible treatments with you.
You might have either the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive types of ADHD. Symptoms of the inattentive type include difficulty staying focused and attentive, forgetfulness and/or poor organization skills. People with the hyperactive/impulsive type are restless and fidgety, often interrupt conversations or activities, have a hard time waiting for their turn, and may use other people's things without permission.
adhd assessments uk suffering from ADHD struggle to comprehend how their conditions affect their lives and relationships. This can lead to strained or dissolved marriages, financial difficulties and problems with parenting. During the evaluation, a psychologist may talk with the ADHD person and their spouse or partner to learn how their problems affect the relationship. You may be asked to fill in checklists that describe your symptoms.
Treatment
A psychiatric examination for ADHD typically involves an interview with the person being evaluated as well as their caregivers, completion of questionnaires or rating scales that measure the the behavior of those with ADHD to those of people who do not have it, and standardized tests. The evaluator might also request teachers to complete questionnaires and review the report cards of the child.
Anyone suffering from ADHD symptoms should be prepared to explain how their ADHD symptoms affect their work, social and personal life. They should expect to be asked questions about how often they interrupt others or lose things and how often they are unable to keep up on tasks. The evaluator wants to know if the symptoms were always present or if they first started to manifest in childhood (technically before the age of 12).
A person has to have significant difficulties in two or more of the following areas to be classified with ADHD: work and school life, family relationships or social interactions. This can be proven by being fired from a job, completing the course, or not paying your bills on time. Mild ADHD symptoms can cause issues, but not serious disruptions.
There are many factors that can trigger similar symptoms to those of ADHD like physical conditions and stress. A mental health specialist or health care professional will examine the person's mood, medical history and other variables to rule these out.
Behavioral therapy is among the most popular treatments for ADHD. It helps people develop better coping skills and learn how to manage their symptoms. It may include cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches people how to transform negative thoughts into positive ones. It can also help reduce the effects of any underlying condition or mental health issues such as depression or substance misuse.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from marital or couple therapy. It can help them appreciate their partner's perspective and improve communication. It can help their partner know how to support and manage someone with ADHD.
Medication
ADHD is defined by hyperactivity, inattention and an impulsive nature. Certain medications can help reduce the symptoms. They are often prescribed along with skill training and therapy which can ease symptoms and help people function better at school, at home at work, at home or in their leisure activities. However, medication is not an answer to all problems and people should continue to work with their physician to figure out how they can manage their ADHD symptoms. It may take a few times to find the ideal combination of medications and dosages but it is crucial to keep in mind that there are a myriad of alternatives.
A trained specialist will talk to the child, parent or adult about their experiences with ADHD with particular attention to the behaviors that happen in various environments, such as at school and at home. They will also examine the person's educational and occupational background and ask questions about their life as a family. They will ask for old report cards or performance evaluations and may also want to talk to the person's teacher.
It is crucial to remember that in order to be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms of the patient must have begun in childhood (technically prior to age 12). So, although experts will only talk about the current symptoms during an assessment of diagnosis however, they may require the assistance of others who knew the individual as a child and might even talk to the person's parents or teachers.
ADHD medications typically contain stimulants that are believed to regulate and increase levels of brain chemicals known as Neurotransmitters. They are available in different forms, including liquids, tablets and patches. They can trigger adverse effects, such as sleep disturbance, agitation and loss of appetite. However they are generally safe if taken according to doctor's instructions. Nonstimulants, which include atomoxetine and certain antidepressants, are also used to treat ADHD. They are generally slower acting and have less adverse effects, but not everyone should use them.
The most effective method of treating ADHD symptoms is a combination of medications as well as behavior therapy and behavioral changes. It's not uncommon for adults and children to test different medications and then alter them over time as their needs change or they experience significant changes in their lives.