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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Finding a diagnosis is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation. The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They might want to look at old reports and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about your childhood habits. 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 cause issues with relationships and learning at school, at home and at work. Talk to your GP in the event that you or your child is showing these signs. They can't formally diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed. A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your health history, and conducting an examination. It is also possible to mention the history of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of a description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests. Psychologists and psychiatrists can 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 a period of six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, work and school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms will likely present differently as they age. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both. If you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Adults who suffer from inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect neurotransmitters in the brain and improve focus and mood. Diagnosis Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step in managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD. During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school and in social settings. They will also review your child's development as well as medical and family history. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to focus, forgetting about things, and interrupting others. 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, cause your child to perform poorly and last for a minimum of at least six months. If your child is not able to meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider will assign them an 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 evaluation may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders or head injuries that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also request a detailed history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough discussion with your child as well as family members. They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD, as the condition is highly heritable. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to locate an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can begin by contacting your insurance company or a local mental 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 performances tests, to check for problems with attention and impulse control. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important element of an evaluation. During an interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also request anyone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the findings with the patient. It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD is based on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's everyday life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major environments, like the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details, making careless errors or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak. Prevention Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they are often ignored. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to keep an occupation. These people also need to be treated. 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 common. The newer name recognizes that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom. There are differences between the way the disorder is presented by 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 it more likely that they go undiagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This includes a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have an understanding of the person, and normative rating scales, both by family members and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning. get adhd diagnosis is also essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different medical or psychiatric condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms. Those who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should. The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs which can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training, can be very effective for children and adults with this condition too. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular checks with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.