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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Finding an accurate diagnosis is the first step to understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses. The expert will conduct an interview designed to look at your past. They might request old reports and speak 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. These symptoms can also cause problems with relationships and learning at home, school and at work. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to an GP. They are not able to diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed. A GP will be able to determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, reviewing medical documents and your health history, and then performing an exam. You may also provide the background of ADHD in your family members to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation may consist of an explanation of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by you, your caregivers and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests. Psychology and psychiatry can help diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They will look for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for six months or more and determining whether these symptoms have a significant impact on your daily routine at work, home and school. Adults may 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 comorbidities meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications increase energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. They can be prescribed in extended-release versions to reduce the effects of side effects. Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to managing the symptoms that could be affecting your daily life, both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, as well as family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric examination. A person who has a symptom-based diagnosis like 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 the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, at school and in social settings. Your child's medical history, development and family history will be studied. They will then compare your child's behavior with those of other children who are similar to them. They can employ standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral issues, such as the inability to pay attention, forgetting about 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 that cause your child to function poorly, and last for at least six months. If your child does not meet the criteria for an inattentive ADHD diagnosis Your healthcare provider could 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 may include neuropsychological and psychological tests, as well as computer-based cognitive tests. Your healthcare provider will also assess your child's blood pressure, and perform an examination of the body to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). They may also ask for details about the issue from teachers and caregivers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and other family members. They'll also look into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly inheritable. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD, they may need medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, and group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The first step in getting treatment is to find an expert in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurance provider 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, like continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Other doctors use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an examination is a patient-patient interview. During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The doctor may also request information from someone who is familiar with the patient very well for example, the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other adults that spend long periods of time with the patient. This is a lengthy procedure that could take up to an hour. The clinician will prepare an evaluation report and then discuss the findings 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. This means that symptoms must be significantly affecting two main settings, such as at work and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview, the clinician will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, and determine if 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 requires at least three of the five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on other tasks or activities, and difficulty listening to someone's words when they speak. Prevention People who have inattentive ADHD are usually not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be ignored. Their issues can have serious consequences. They may not do well at school, have disagreements with their peers or struggle to keep jobs. They also have to be treated with respect. 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 an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer designation includes the fact that children could be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own. While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are a few distinct ways in which the disorder presents itself between 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 it more likely that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment. A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a health care professional. 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 or parents, or other adults who know the person as well as standard ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and educators. These can be useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning. It is crucial to conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the symptoms are caused by other psychiatric or medical condition such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected 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. Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Adults and children with inattentive ADHD may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctor on a regular basis, as certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.