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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Getting a diagnosis is the first step in understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations. The specialist will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They may request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to learn about your childhood behaviors. Signs and symptoms Children and adults who have symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have trouble with paying close attention, listening attentively and following directions—things that come naturally to others. These symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at home, school and at work. Talk to your GP in the event that you or your child displays these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required. A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and conducting an examination. You can also discuss the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include an explanation of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests. Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. These include looking for a pattern of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily life at home, work and school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms tend to manifest differently as they grow older. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both. If your adult symptoms meet the requirements for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, as well as improving focus and concentration. They are available in extended-release forms to lessen adverse effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of the symptoms that could affect your personal and professional life. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD. During an ADHD assessment Your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social environments. They will also review your child's growth, medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behaviors to those of other children of similar age. They may use standardized ratings scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, like inability to focus, forgetting about things and interrupting other people. There are three presentations of ADHD – predominately inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined. To be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must meet six of the nine symptoms that fall under either the inattentive or the hyperactive-impulsive categories. They must be present in at least two settings and cause your child to function poorly and last for a minimum of at least six months. If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional may diagnose them with unspecified ADHD. adhd adult diagnosis uk might also decide that your child does not have a hyperactive-impulsive presentation of the condition and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis. A comprehensive psychiatric assessment may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests and psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure and complete a physical exam to rule out any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy includes individual and family counseling and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first step to receive treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for impulsivity and attention issues. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important component of an evaluation. During an interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also seek information from someone who knows the patient well like a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that could be a long time. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the results with the patient. It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the individual's daily activities. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major environments, like home and work. In order for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis, the impairment must have been present for at least six month. During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of these five symptom categories: difficulty paying close attention to details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on tasks or activities and difficulty listening when talking to others and daydreaming or seeming distracted. Prevention Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often dismissed. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to hold a job. These individuals require treatment, as well. The term ADD is still used occasionally however the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom. While many of the symptoms are present in all instances, there are variations in the way that the disorder manifests between girls and boys. Girls and children assigned female at birth (AFAB) tend to show more inattentive symptoms, which are less noticeable, than the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. This makes them more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment. An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. This involves a medical history review as well as a clinical interview, and physical examination. It involves examining reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an understanding of the individual and normative rating scales completed both by loved ones as well as teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that they affect the way you function. It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms. Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working as it should. Stimulant medications are the most common treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very effective for children and adults with this condition as well. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular checks with their healthcare providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.