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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists and neurologists, family physicians) who is proficient in ADHD assessments. The expert will conduct an organized interview to review your background. They may ask to see old reports, and talk to teachers, family members or your friends to find out about your childhood behavior. 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 can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, work and home. If you or your child exhibit these symptoms, speak to a GP. They can't formally diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend 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 conducting an examination. It is also possible to provide the history of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation could include a description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your caregivers and physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric exam. Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. These include looking for patterns of inattention or hyperactivity that lasts for at least six months, and evaluating whether these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life at home, work and school. Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same way but their symptoms are more likely to present 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific You may be prescribed medication. Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These drugs, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and can improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A psychiatric examination is conducted by a licensed mental health professional or a physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). A person who is diagnosed with a 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, to receive treatment for ADHD. During an ADHD assessment, your healthcare provider will inquire about your child's behavior at home, school and social environments. The medical history of your child, development and family history will be examined. They will then evaluate your child's behavior with the behavior of other children of similar age. They may use standardized rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behaviors, like difficulty paying attention, forgetting things or 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 a variety of settings that affect your child's behavior and cause disruption and be present for at least six months. If your child is not able to meet all the criteria needed to be diagnosed of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider will assign them an 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 evaluation may include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure and complete an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They may also request a detailed history of the issue from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough discussion with your child and family members. They will also consider whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD the person may require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy includes family and individual counseling, as well as group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. To start treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by contacting your insurance company or a local mental health support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find professionals who specialize in ADHD in your region. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous tests for performance, to look for problems with attention and impulsivity. Some doctors also use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient interview is the most crucial component of an evaluation. During the interview, the clinician will discuss the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The clinician will also seek details from someone who knows the patient very well like the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults that spend long periods of time with the patient. It is a long process that can take up to an hour. The clinician will then complete a report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient. It is important to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the person's everyday life. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major situations, including work and home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present for at minimum six months. During the interview the clinician 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 the five symptoms: trouble paying attention to the smallest of details and making erroneous mistakes, difficulty in staying focused on tasks or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are being talked to or daydreaming, or appearing distracted. Prevention People with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed. They're not as disruptive or impulsive as people with hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. However, how to get diagnosed with adhd can have consequences: they may be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with their peers, or have difficulty to find a job. These individuals also need to be treated. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still used from time to time, but it is not the most popular. The newer definition takes into account that children may only have symptoms of inattention. There are differences between the way that the disorder is manifested 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. This makes them more likely to not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment. A thorough examination by a healthcare professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing reports by teachers parents, teachers or other people who know the person and also standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and teachers. These can assist in determining whether the symptoms are present to an extent that impacts the functioning. It is crucial to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some cases, treating other disorders can help alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working in the way it should. Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. It is crucial to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or alternative treatment options.