ADHD Diagnosis Melbourne
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), previously known as ADD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that commonly starts in childhood and may last up to adulthood. Children with ADHD can have a set of behavioural symptoms such as impulsive behaviours, trouble paying attention, or being hyperactive. ADHD is a condition where people are unable to focus or stay in one place and may behave impulsively. This type of condition can affect children and teens' behaviour and learning, especially school-age children between 6 to 12 years old. It is also more common in boys than girls. The brains of people with ADHD have more difficulty filtering out background noise, and so find it difficult to maintain focus on one task at a time. It has been suggested that ADHD is associated with lower thresholds for sensory information. The effect of ADHD on visual processing has been documented by some studies to be like what would happen if a person were tone-deaf. Since children with ADHD may lack self-control, it can affect the way they interact in school and at home.
What are the Symptoms of ADHD?
Parents of children with ADHD can successfully manage their child’s symptoms with assistance from professionals. Thus, undergoing an ADHD Diagnosis Melbourne, is essential especially for children showing the following symptoms of ADHD, which is classified into three categories, including:
Inattention
Lacks attention to details
Makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, job task, or other activities
Struggles to focus on a task or play activities
Does not follow instructions and have difficulties in completing a task in school, work, or chores
Struggles organising tasks and activities
Does not appear to be listening when spoken to directly
Gets easily distracted
Avoids or dislikes doing tasks that require mental effort for a prolonged period
Frequently loses things necessary for tasks or activities
Often forgets daily activities
Has difficulties in sitting still
Has tendencies to daydream
Hyperactivity
Often fidgets with their hands and feet or squirm in the seat
Has difficulties in sitting
Runs or climbs inappropriate places or situations
Inability to quietly play or partake in leisure activities
Always on the go
Talks excessively
Being too restless and agitated
Impulsivity
Often blurts out an answer without waiting for the questions to be completed
Struggles to wait for his or her turn
Interrupts conversation or intrudes on other activities
Apart from the stated symptoms, ADHD can also evolve as a person ages with the following qualities being evident:
Being forgetful
Often late
Anxious
Has self-esteem issues
Struggles to control anger
Engaged in substance abuse
Procrastinating
Gets frustrated easily
Changes in mood
Has depression
Low concentration
Social relations issues
What are the Types of ADHD?
Using the list above, the healthcare professional conducting the ADHD Diagnosis can determine the ADHD type once the client undergoes an assessment. The types of ADHD include:
Combined Type. This applies if a child has the following symptoms for the last six months: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Predominantly Inattentive Type. This applies if a child shows the symptoms of inattention for the last six months, but not the symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type. This applies if a child shows the symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity for the last six months, but not the symptoms of inattention.
What are the causes of ADHD?
The specific cause has not yet been determined. However, based on the theories, ADHD can be inherited if at least one member of the family has a behavioural disorder. Apart from genetic contribution, the following factors can contribute to ADHD:
A child being born prematurely
Underweight during birth
Drug or alcohol intake during pregnancy
Brain injury
Neurophysiology
Lead exposure
Children lacking early attachment from parents
A child having traumatic experience at an early age, contributing to inattention and hyperactivity
How is it diagnosed?
If you are concerned if your child has ADHD, it is recommended to take the first step of consulting your general physician (GP) and get a referral to a paediatrician or a child psychologist. When conducting the ADHD/ADD Diagnosis, health professionals will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which is a standard way to assess the behaviour of an individual with suspected ADHD. To determine the classification of ADHD, a standardised rating scale will be used during the detailed assessment.
Additionally, the diagnostic process will also require the individual to undergo a physical exam including vision screening, hearing screening, and electroencephalogram (EEG). The healthcare providers will request a complete medical history to have an in-depth understanding of the individual’s condition and other possible reasons that can affect their behaviour. Since there is no accurate way to test ADHD, the specialist conducting the diagnosis needs to conduct a detailed assessment. Thus, it is important to cooperate and be honest with the specialist so that they can gather essential information to accurately diagnose the child.
These are some of the information that can help with the diagnosis:
Obvious symptoms of ADHD in most areas of the child’s life
History of the child’s behaviours
Any experienced trauma or illness
Child's relationships and family
During the ADHD/ADD Diagnosis, mental health professionals will also assess the following factors:
The Severity of the Symptoms. When making an ADHD diagnosis, an individual could have experienced a negative impact on their life. Individuals who are diagnosed with ADHD commonly have difficulties with their careers, finances, or family duties.
The Appearance of the Symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD appear in childhood. The doctor or specialist will assess how early the symptoms appeared. If you are an adult, it is also important to trace when the symptoms appeared.
Duration of Symptoms. The duration of the experience symptoms is important when conducting the diagnosis. To be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must be ongoing for at least 6 months before undergoing assessment.
Areas Triggering the Symptoms. To determine if an individual has ADHD, the symptoms should occur in different settings such as home, school, and work. If the symptoms only occur in a specific area, they cannot be accurately diagnosed as ADHD.
How to manage ADHD?
Undergoing an ADHD/ADD Diagnosis is an important process to determine if an individual has ADHD. Since there is no cure for ADHD, the citizens and residents of Melbourne are encouraged to undergo an ADHD/ADD Diagnostic at Positive Moods to accurately diagnose and properly manage ADHD. To help reduce the symptoms of ADHD, here are some ways that can help:
Stimulant medication to reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity
Partaking in psychotherapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy and behaviour therapy
Undergoing family counselling
Educational support
Parenting skills for parents and carers
Parents and carers learning techniques for stress management
Join support group
We also do ADHD testing on the Sunshine Coast
For more details, may call Positive Moods on 1300 001 470, email at ndis@positivemoods.com.au, or fill in the contact form on https://www.positivemoods.com.au/contactus.