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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses. The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They might want to look at old report cards and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about your childhood habits. 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 work, school and home. Consult your GP if you or your child is showing these signs. They're not able to definitively diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed. A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and performing an examination. You may also provide the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could comprise a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, along with physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination. 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 look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms interfere with your life at home at work, at home, and in school. Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms are more likely 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 are in line with the criteria for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. diagnosis adhd that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They may be given as extended-release versions to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Adults who present with inattentive ADHD might be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood. Diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must adhere to 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 inquire about your child's behavior at school, at home and in social settings. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be studied. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age. They can use standard rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, 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 be present in more than one setting, affect your child's functioning and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six 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 complete psychiatric examination could include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based, as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to identify any medical issues that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers for a detailed background and conduct an extensive interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD the person may need medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling, and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. To begin treatment, you need to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance provider or asking a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to test for problems with attention and impulse control. Other doctors use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an assessment. During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also seek out anyone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare a report, and discuss the results with the patient. It is extremely important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by how the symptoms interfere with the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major environments, like work and home. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed, the impairment must have been present for at least six months. During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they are in compliance with the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks and difficulty listening when spoken to and daydreaming or seeming distracted. Prevention People with inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often dismissed. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well in school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to hold a job. These people also need to be treated with respect. The term ADD is still used infrequently 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 designation includes the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own. There are differences between the manner in which 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 it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. This involves an examination of the medical history along with a medical interview, and physical examination. It includes analyzing reports from teachers, parents, or other adults with an understanding of the person, as well as normative rating scales, both by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that they affect the way you function. It is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are related to another medical or psychiatric condition such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms. Anyone who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning as it should. The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health care providers, as some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.