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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Getting a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses. The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to examine your past. They may ask to see old reports and talk to family members, teachers or friends to get information about your childhood behavior. 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 also may interfere with relationships and learning at school, work and at home. Speak to your GP if 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 specialists, if required. A GP can determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical records and your medical history, and then performing an exam. It is also possible to mention the history of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests. Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. They look for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for a period of six months or more and assess whether the symptoms interfere with your life at home at work, or in school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD, but their symptoms are likely to manifest 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 your adult symptoms match the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in taking control of symptoms which may be affecting both your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD must adhere to certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD. 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 review your child's developmental as well as medical history and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior with the behavior of other children his age. They can employ standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to pay attention, forgetting about things, and interrupting others. There are adhd diagnostic 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 isn't meeting the criteria 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 thorough psychiatric evaluation can include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and check your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders or head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they may need medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling, as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting treatment is to find an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurance provider or asking a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important element of an evaluation. During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor may also request anyone who is familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent, or sibling, for details. The clinician will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough process and can take an hour or more. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the exam with the patient. It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as the workplace and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate 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 requires at least three of the five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak. The following is a list with preventions. People who have inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive types 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 a job. These individuals require treatment, as well. The term ADD is still used infrequently, but the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the condition as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name takes into account that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom. While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that the disorder presents itself between 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment. An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. This may include an assessment of medical history as well as a clinical interview, and physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and educators. These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to an extent that they affect the way you function. It is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are related to other psychiatric or medical condition like depression or anxiety. In some cases the treatment of other disorders may help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect from their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also stay in contact with their doctor to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should. The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications that can aid in improving concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely effective for children and adults who suffer from this condition, too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.