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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments. The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your history. They may ask to see old reports and talk to family members, teachers or friends to get information 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. The symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to an GP. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialists, if required. A GP will be able to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and then performing a physical exam. You may also discuss the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your family members, and physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination. Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They will look for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, work and school. Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD, but the symptoms of ADHD will likely manifest differently as they get 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 guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are typically prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications may be given in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life, both professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During an ADHD evaluation, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior at the home, school and social environments. The medical history of your child and development history, as well as the family history will be reviewed. Then, they will compare your child's behavior against the behavior of other children his age. They could use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behaviors, like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or interrupting other children. 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 occur in a variety of settings, affect your child's functioning and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six (6) months. If your child doesn't meet the requirements for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional may diagnose them with unspecified ADHD. They 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 could include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also assess your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They can also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as your family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because the condition is highly genetically inherited. focus issues If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to find an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Others use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an assessment. During an interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor will also request information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can last up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the results with the patient. It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to which the symptoms impact the person's everyday life. This means that symptoms must be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview, a clinician will go over the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if the person meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be backed by at least three of these five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks, trouble listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted. The following is a list of preventatives. In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD, and they can be easily missed. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to keep an occupation. These individuals must be treated as well. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD may still be used from time to time, but it is not the most popular. The newer designation includes the fact that children could be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own. There are differences in the way that the disorder is manifested by boys and girls. 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 not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment. A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This includes an examination of the medical history along with a medical interview and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well, as well as normed ratings scales that are that are completed by family members and educators. These can assist in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function. It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases, treating these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms. Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment and possible side effects. They should also stay in touch with their doctor to make sure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should. Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education, can be very efficient for both adults and children with this condition as well. It is important to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.