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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to manage symptoms is to receive a diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses. The specialist will conduct an interview that is designed to look at your past. They might request old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or friends to get information about your childhood behaviors. 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at school, work and home. If adhd diagnosis in adults uk adhddiagnosis.top or your child have these symptoms, talk to an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required. A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your health history and medical records and completing physical examination. You can also mention your family's history of ADHD to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests. Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more and assess whether the symptoms impact your daily family life, at home, at work, and in school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD however 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 match the guidelines for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These medications improve concentration and focus, as well as increasing energy and alertness. They are available as extended-release versions to reduce side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood. Diagnosis Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your life both professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During the ADHD evaluation, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school as well as in social situations. They will also discuss your child's developmental medical and family history. Then, they will evaluate your child's behavior to those of children who are of similar age. They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behaviors, like difficulty paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting other children. 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 settings and cause your child to perform poorly and last for at least at least six 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 thorough psychiatric assessment can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and your family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, you must first locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider or asking your 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. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for attention and impulsivity problems. Others utilize brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for any abnormalities. Experts agree that the interview with the patient is the most important element of an evaluation. During the interview, the therapist will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor will also request information from someone who knows the patient well for example, the spouse, sibling or parent. The doctor will also interview teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a thorough process and can take an hour or more. The doctor will then write an assessment report and discuss the results of the assessment with the patient. It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the individual's daily activities. This means that the patient's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as home and work. In order for ADHD to be recognized, the impairment must have been present for 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 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 these five symptom categories: trouble paying attention to the smallest of specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on work or activities and difficulty listening when being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing distracted. The following is a list of preventatives. People who have inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as those with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not perform well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find jobs. These people also need to be treated. 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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name takes into account that children can have symptoms of inattention. There are differences in the way that 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 increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health professional. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It is a process of examining reports from teachers, parents or other adults with a good understanding of the individual and normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones and by educators. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning. A thorough evaluation is essential to determine if symptoms are caused by another medical or mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms. People who are who have been diagnosed with the disorder should to be aware of possible adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should. Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Children and adults with inattentive ADHD can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is important to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.