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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step in managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation. The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your background. They might request old reports and talk 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. These symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, at home and at work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required. A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and conducting an examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include a description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation. Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more, and evaluate whether these symptoms impact your daily life at home at work, or in school. Adults can also 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 match the guidelines for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These drugs boost energy and alertness, as well as improving concentration and focus. They are available as extended-release versions to reduce adverse effects. Antidepressants are often employed to treat the inattention presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination can be conducted by a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. They will also go over your child's developmental medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with that of other children his age. They could use standardized rating scales that assess 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 problems, and have been present for at least six months. If your child doesn't meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could 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 thorough psychiatric assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also request details about the problem from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If someone has been identified as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting treatment is to find an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting adhd in adults undiagnosed or the local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for signs of abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important component of an evaluation. During an interview, the physician will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor may also ask anyone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a very thorough procedure that can take an hour or more. The clinician will then complete an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient. It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to that the symptoms affect the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major settings, such as the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health 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 must be backed by at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on activities or tasks or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or seeming distracted. Prevention In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD, and they can be easily overlooked. But their problems do have consequences: they could be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or have difficulty to find a job. These people also need to be treated. 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 definition includes the fact that children may be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own. There are differences in the manner in which the disorder is exhibited 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 them more likely to not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment. An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health professional. This includes an examination of the medical history as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. It is a process of examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults who have a good understanding of the person, as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by family members and teachers. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning. A careful evaluation is also important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Those who are diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect in terms of their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medications are working exactly as they should. The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Children and adults with inattentive ADHD might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as some patients may require adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.