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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step in managing symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family physicians) who is proficient in ADHD evaluations. The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may ask for old report cards and talk to teachers, relatives or friends about your childhood habits. 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 work, school and home. Consult your GP in the event that you or your child is showing these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if required. A GP will be able to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical documents and your health history, and performing physical examination. You can also mention the history of your family's ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests. Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They examine for hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity behaviors that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms impact your daily life at home, at work, and in school. Adults may 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 meet the guidelines for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce side effects. Adults who present with inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus. Diagnosis Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD, a person with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must follow certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school and in social settings. They will also review your child's growth, medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to those of children who are his age. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as inability to pay attention, ignoring things, and interrupting others. There are helpful site 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 that make your child perform poorly and last for at least six months. If your child does not meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed 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 thorough psychiatric examination can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination to identify any medical issues that may be related to ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the issue from caregivers and teachers, and conduct a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They will also consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly heritable. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling as well as group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to find an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by calling your insurer or asking the local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests of performance, to test for attention and impulsivity problems. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important element of an assessment. During an interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor will also request information from someone who knows the patient well, such as the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to 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 write a report, and discuss the findings with the patient. It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the person's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main environments, like the workplace and at home. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six month. During the interview, the doctor will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD is based on at least three of the five symptom categories: difficulty paying close attention to details and making careless mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on tasks or activities and difficulty listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing distracted. Prevention Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be dismissed. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience problems with their peers, or struggle to hold an occupation. These people must be treated as well. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time, but it is not the most popular. The newer designation takes into account the fact that children could suffer from inattentive symptoms alone. There are helpful site in the manner in which 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 are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health care professional. That includes a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers or parents, or other adults who know the patient well, as well as normed scales of rating that are completed by family members and teachers. These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that impacts the functioning. A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of these other disorders will aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms. People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible side effects. They should also keep in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working exactly as it should. how to get an adhd diagnosis uk used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely efficient for both adults and children who suffer from this condition, too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular check-ups with their healthcare providers because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.