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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making an assessment is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician) who specializes in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses. The specialist will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They might want to look at old reports and talk to family members, teachers or classmates about 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. These symptoms can also interfere with learning and relationships at school, home and at work. Consult your GP if you or your child is showing these symptoms. They aren't able to officially diagnose ADHD, but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed. A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records, and performing physical examination. You may also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical examination and laboratory tests. Psychiatrists and psychologists 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 patterns of inattention or hyperactivity, which lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your life at home, work and school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way however, their symptoms are more likely to manifest differently as they grow older. They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation or a combination of both. If you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Adults suffering from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These drugs improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and improve mood and focus. Diagnosis Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that could be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A psychiatric examination is performed by an accredited mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth 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 ask questions about your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be reviewed. They will then assess your child's behavior with the behavior of other children who are similar to them. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, such as inability to focus, forgetting about things, or 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 be present for at least six (6) months. If your child doesn't 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 complete psychiatric examination can include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your doctor will assess your child's blood pressure and complete a physical exam to determine if there are any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD, as ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment or medication for their behavior. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling, as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to locate an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. You can start by contacting your insurer or a local support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for attention and impulsivity problems. Other doctors utilize brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to detect abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient. During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician will also seek information from someone who knows the patient well like a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that can take up to an hour. The clinician will complete the report, and then discuss the results with the patient. It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to which the symptoms impact the individual's daily activities. The symptoms have to be significantly affecting two major settings such as at work and at home. In order for ADHD to be recognized the condition must have been present at minimum six months. During the interview, a clinician will review the patient's medical and mental health history and determine whether or not the person meets the diagnostic criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of the five symptoms: trouble paying attention to the smallest of specifics and making mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or activities, trouble listening when spoken to and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted. The following is a list of preventatives. People who have inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD, and they can be easily overlooked. However, adhd diagnosis uk adults can result in consequences: they might not perform well at school, get into trouble with classmates or have difficulty to hold an occupation. These individuals need to be treated, too. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name for the condition. The term ADD may still be occasionally used, but it is not the most popular. The newer version is based on the fact that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom. There are some 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 be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment. A thorough examination 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 also involves reviewing the reports of teachers, parents or other adults who know the patient well, as well as normed ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that impacts the functioning. It is crucial to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to other psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. People who are diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning in the way they should. The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health care providers because some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.