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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and managing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments. The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your past. They may ask for old reports and speak with parents, relatives or even friends about childhood behaviors. 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at school, home and work. Speak to your GP in the event that you or your child exhibits these symptoms. They are unable to diagnose ADHD in a formal manner, but they can discuss your concerns and recommend you to specialists if required. A GP can assist you in determining whether your symptoms are linked to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical history and health records and completing a physical exam. You can also mention the history of your family members with ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include an explanation of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by you, your caregivers and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests. Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They will look for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for a period of six months or more and determining if these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, work and school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD however, their symptoms are likely to 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 criteria for diagnosis, you may be treated with medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are usually prescribed psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters. These medications help improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to lessen the effects of the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine), affect the brain's neurotransmitters and enhance mood and focus. Diagnosis Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your daily life, professionally and personally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person with an underlying symptom-based diagnosis, such as ADHD, must meet specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD. During an ADHD evaluation your healthcare provider will ask questions about your child's behavior at the home, school and social environments. They will also go over your child's development medical history and family history. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are who are similar to them. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavior issues, such as the inability to pay attention, ignoring 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 a variety of settings that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six months. If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis the healthcare professional 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 tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computer-based and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical exam and assess your child's heart rate to determine if there are medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could mimic ADHD symptoms. They may also request a detailed history of the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and other family members. They'll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, and group therapy like dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. 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. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to test for problems with attention and impulse control. Others utilize brain scans, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview. During the interview, the doctor will go over the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician will also ask for information from someone who knows the patient well, such as siblings, spouses or a parent. The clinician will also talk to nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend long periods of time with the patient. It is a long procedure that could take up to an hour. The doctor will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the results of the examination with the patient. It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on the degree to which the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major settings, such as home and work. The impairment must be present for at least six months to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine if the patient is in compliance with 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 is based on at least three of these five symptom categories: difficulty paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks, trouble listening when spoken to and daydreaming or seeming distracted. Prevention People who have inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive, or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and are often overlooked. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not perform well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to keep an occupation. These individuals also need to be treated with respect. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD may still be occasionally used but it's not the most commonly used. The newer designation is based on the fact that children may be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own. There are differences 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment. An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a medical professional. This includes an examination of the medical history as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. executive function involves reviewing the reports of teachers or parents, or other adults who know the patient well as well as standard rating scales used by loved ones and educators. These can assist in determining if the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning. It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are due to other psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms. People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of their treatment and possible medication side effects. They should also remain in touch with their doctor to make sure that the medication is working in the way it should. Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. It is essential to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor regularly, since some patients may need adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.