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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, neurologist, family physician) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses. The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your history. They might want to look at old reports and speak to teachers, relatives or 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. The symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, work and home. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult a GP. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required. A GP can determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical records and your medical history, and then performing an examination. You can also mention the background of ADHD in your family to help with the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include an explanation and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers along with physical examination, laboratory tests, and a psychiatric examination. Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. This includes looking for an inattention pattern, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your life at home, work and 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 are in line with the requirements for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. These medications can be administered in an extended-release version to reduce the effects of side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal life. A psychiatric assessment can be performed by an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who is diagnosed with a diagnosis based on symptoms such as ADHD, must meet specific 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 an ADHD assessment, your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior at home, school and social settings. The medical history of your child as well as family history and development will be reviewed. They will then evaluate your child's behavior to the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They can employ standardized ratings scales to determine the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the inability to focus, 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 more than one setting and affect your child's performance and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months. If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, your healthcare provider 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 assessment could include neuropsychological and psycho-psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical conditions like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may mimic ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and parents for a thorough history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling as in addition to group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to locate 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 a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors employ computer tests, such as continuous performance tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Some doctors also use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation. During an interview, the clinician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a lengthy process that can take up to an hour. The doctor will write an evaluation report and then discuss the results with the patient. It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the individual's daily activities. This means that the symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two major settings such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed, the impairment must have been present for at least six month. During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria outlined 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 minimum three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes and having difficulty focusing on work or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone when they speak. Prevention In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and are often ignored. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not perform well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to keep an occupation. They need to be treated, as well. The term ADD is still used occasionally 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 version takes into account that children can be suffering from an inattention symptom. There are some differences in the manner in which the disorder is presented 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough examination by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes a medical history review along with a medical interview, and a physical exam. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers or parents, or other adults who know the person as well as standard ratings scales that are used by loved ones and teachers. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning. A careful evaluation is also crucial to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases treating these other disorders will help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms. People who are diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also stay in touch with their physician or nurse to ensure that the medication is working exactly as they should. Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. how to get an adult adhd diagnosis who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to seek regular check-ups with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.