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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation. The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to review your past. They may want to see old reports and speak with family members, teachers or classmates 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. The symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, work and at home. Consult your GP in the event that you or your child exhibits these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required. A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and conducting an examination. You may also discuss the history of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, along with physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam. Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This includes looking for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity, which lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily routine at home, at work or school. Adults can also 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 match the requirements for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing energy and alertness. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to lessen the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal life. A psychiatric evaluation is performed by a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out 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'll be asked questions about your child's behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be studied. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior against those of children who are their age. They can employ 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 be present in at least two environments, cause your child to perform poorly and last for at least six months. If your child does not meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can include psychological and neuropsychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also check your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also ask for an extensive history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will consider whether there is any family history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling, as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurer or a local mental support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. how to diagnose adhd utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient. During the interview, the clinician will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician may also seek out someone 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 adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare the report, and then discuss the results with the patient. It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on how the symptoms interfere with a person's life. The symptoms must be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. To be eligible for ADHD to be recognized the condition must have been present at minimum 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 Assocation'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 symptoms: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on activities or tasks and difficulty listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or seeming distracted. The following is a list of preventatives. People who have inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. However, their problems can result in consequences: they might be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or struggle to keep an occupation. These people also need to be treated with respect. The term ADD is still used frequently 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 takes into account that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom. There are differences in the way that the disorder is manifested 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. That includes a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, as well as normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones and by teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in functioning. A thorough examination is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by a different medical or mental illness, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment they receive and potential side effects. They should also remain in contact with their physician to ensure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should. Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatment for inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. People who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular checks with their health care providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.