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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards 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 designed to look at your past. They might request old reports and speak to teachers, family members or your friends to find out about your childhood behavior. 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 also may interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and at home. If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required. A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records, and performing a physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, along with physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric exam. 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. They will look for a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your life at work, home and school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD however, their symptoms will likely present 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 criteria 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 improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. They are available as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus. Diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A psychiatric evaluation can be performed by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school, and in social situations. adult adhd diagnosis will also go over your child's developmental, medical and family history. They will then assess your child's behavior with the behavior of other children their age. They may use standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, 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 occur in two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause disruption and be present for at least six months. If your child does not meet all of the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider will assign them 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 thorough psychiatric assessment may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure, and perform a physical exam to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also ask for details about the problem from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will take into consideration whether there is any family history of ADHD since the condition is highly genetically inherited. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling, and also group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors employ computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to determine attention and impulse control problems. Other doctors use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is an interview with the patient. During the interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor will also request details from someone who knows the patient very well for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take an hour or more. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient. It is vital to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms impact the person's daily life. This means that the symptoms must be significant in two main settings, such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be considered a diagnosis the disorder must have been present for at least six months. During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Assocation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak. The following is a list of preventions. People with inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and can be easily ignored. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to hold a job. These individuals also need to be treated. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used, but it is not the most commonly used. The newer definition includes the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone. While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which the disorder manifests between 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 it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough assessment by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This involves a medical history review along with a medical interview, and a physical exam. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard rating scales used by loved ones and educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to affect functioning. It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another medical or psychiatric condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of 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 remain in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should. The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education are very effective for children and adults with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.