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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to manage symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD assessments. The expert will conduct an interview structured to review your past. They may ask to see old reports and talk to your family members, teachers or friends to learn 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 also may interfere with learning and relationships at work, school and at home. If you or your child have these symptoms, talk to an GP. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed. A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting physical examination. You may also provide the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis. The GP can then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may consist of the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, physical exam and lab tests. Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to 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 look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for six months or longer, and evaluate whether these symptoms affect your life at home at work, or at school. Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms are more likely to present 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. Adults with ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications boost energy and alertness, while also improving focus and concentration. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to reduce the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of symptoms which may affect your professional and personal life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms such as ADHD must follow 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 evaluation your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in the home, school and social settings. They will also review your child's development as well as medical history and family history. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children their age. They may use standardized rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavioral problems such as difficulty paying attention, ignoring things and interrupting others. 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, make your child perform poorly and last for a minimum of six months. If your child does not meet the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider 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 comprehensive psychiatric evaluation may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will examine your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination to rule out any medical conditions that may be related to ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and perform a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD because the condition is highly heritable. Treatment If someone has been identified as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include individual and family counseling, as also group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step in getting treatment is to locate an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or a local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find a professional who specialize in ADHD in your region. Certain doctors utilize computer programs, such as continuous tests for performance, to look for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to search for signs of abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is an interview with the patient. During the interview, the therapist will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also seek out anyone who is familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent, or sibling for information. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a very thorough process that could take an hour or more. The physician will then write an assessment report and discuss the findings of the examination with the patient. It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the extent to that the symptoms affect 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. The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an acceptable diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview, the doctor will go over the patient's medical and psychiatric history and determine whether or not the person meets the diagnostic criteria established 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 symptoms: trouble paying attention to small details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on work or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or appearing distracted. Prevention In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and can be easily missed. But their problems do result in consequences: they might be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with peers or find it difficult to find their job. These individuals require treatment, as well. The term ADD is still used occasionally, 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 is based on the fact that children may only suffer from inattentive symptom. There are 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. adhd adults diagnosis uk increases the likelihood that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. That includes a clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the patient well, as well as normed scales of rating used by loved ones and educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning. A careful evaluation is also important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In some instances treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Those diagnosed with the disorder need be aware of potential side effects and treatment. They should also stay in touch with their doctor or nurse to make sure that the medications are functioning in the way they should. Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease the impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training, can be very efficient for both adults and children with this condition as well. It is essential to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may need adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.