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ADHD Evaluations and DiagnosesFinding a diagnosis is the first step in understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is experienced in ADHD evaluations.The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your history. They may ask for old report cards and speak with family members, teachers or classmates about your childhood habits.Signs and symptomsChildren 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 relationships and learning at work, school and at home. Speak to your GP in the event that you or your child displays these signs. They are not able to diagnose ADHD formally, but can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required.A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical records and your health history, and performing an examination. You can also discuss 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 evaluation. The evaluation could include the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your family members, as well as 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. They will look for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at work, home and school.Adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD however their symptoms are likely to manifest differently as they age. 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 criteria for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications increase energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to minimize the risk of the risk of adverse effects. Adults with inattention ADHD may be treated with antidepressants. These drugs, like Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve focus and mood.DiagnosisBeing diagnosed with ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that may be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologist or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must follow certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD.During the ADHD evaluation, you’ll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school, and in social situations. The medical history of your child, development and family history will be studied. They will then compare your child’s behavior with that of other children their age. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty in paying attention, forgetting things or 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 environments, cause your child to perform poorly, and last for six months.If your child doesn’t meet the requirements 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 could include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests, as well as neuropsychological and psychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical examination and assess your child’s heart rate to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that can be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They might also request a detailed history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family members. They will take into consideration whether there is a family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited.TreatmentIf someone has been identified 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). To start treatment, you need to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance provider or a local mental support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your area. Some doctors use computer programs, such as continuous performance tests, to check for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others use brain scans, for instance single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for any abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most crucial part of an evaluation is a patient interview.During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician will also seek details from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The doctor will also speak with nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that can take an hour or more. The doctor will then write a report and discuss the findings of the assessment with the patient.It is extremely important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is determined by the extent to which the symptoms affect the life of a person. This means that the patient’s symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major situations, including the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD.During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they meet 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 must be backed by at least three of these five symptoms: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on work or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or appearing to be distracted.PreventionPeople who have inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They’re not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and are often ignored. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They might not do well at school, have conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find a job. These people 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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer name is based on the fact that children might only be suffering from an inattention symptom.There are IamPsychiatry 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 means they are more likely to be undiagnosed and less likely to seek treatment.A thorough assessment by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This may include an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who know the person and also standard scales of rating used by loved ones and teachers. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that they affect the way you function.It is important to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are due to another medical or psychiatric condition such as anxiety or depression. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms.People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment and possible adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician or nurse to make sure that the medication is working in the way they should.The most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant medications, which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behavior. Adults and children suffering from ADHD with inattentiveness may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to seek regular check-ups with their health care providers since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.