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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to manage symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor) who is specialized in ADHD assessments and diagnoses. The expert will conduct an interview structured to review your past. They may ask for old report cards and speak to teachers, relatives or 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. The symptoms also may interfere with learning and relationships at school, work and home. If you or your child have these symptoms, consult an GP. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialists, if required. A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical history and health records and completing a physical exam. You may also provide the history of ADHD in your family to help with the diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include a description and scales of your symptoms, completed by you and your family members, as well as physical examination, laboratory tests and a psychiatric evaluation. Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for at least six months and determine if these symptoms impact your daily life at home at work, at home, and in school. Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms are more likely to present differently as they grow 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 criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are adult-specific you could be prescribed medication. getting diagnosed with adhd , which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These medications improve concentration and focus, while increasing alertness and energy. They can be prescribed in extended-release form to reduce the effects of side effects. Adults who suffer from inattentive ADHD can be treated with antidepressants. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor, affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis Being diagnosed with ADHD is the first step in managing the symptoms that may be affecting your life both personally and professionally. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family doctors) can conduct a psychiatric evaluation. To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a symptom based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During an ADHD evaluation 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 reviewed. They will then compare your child's behavior to the behavior of other children of similar age. They could use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty in paying attention, forgetting 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 two or more settings and affect your child's performance and cause problems, and have been present for at least six months. If your child does not meet the requirements 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 can include psychological and neuropsychological testing, and cognitive tests that are computer-based. Your doctor will check your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination of the body to determine if there are any medical conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms like thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). Teachers may also ask and caregivers to provide a full history and conduct a thorough interview with your child as well as family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly heritable. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed with ADHD, he or she might require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling, as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, it is necessary to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurer or asking your local mental health support group, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Certain doctors utilize computer tests, such as continuous performances tests, to test for attention and impulse control problems. Some doctors also use brain scans, such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to look for abnormalities. Experts agree that the patient's interview is the most important component of an evaluation. During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The doctor might also ask someone who is very familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling, for information. The clinician will also interview nannies, teachers, coaches and other professionals who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough procedure that could take up to an hour. The physician will then write a report and discuss the results of the assessment with the patient. It is vital to keep in mind that the definition of ADHD depends on how the symptoms interfere with the life of a person. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major situations, including home and work. For ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present for at minimum six months. During the interview, the clinician will go over 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 Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the five symptoms such as difficulty paying attention details, making careless errors, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak. Prevention People who have inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed. They aren't as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and can be easily ignored. However, their issues can have consequences: they could be unable to perform at school, have a conflict with classmates or find it difficult to keep their job. They require treatment, too. The term ADD is still used infrequently, 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 takes into account that children might only suffer from inattentive symptom. While many of the symptoms are common to all instances, there are differences in how the disorder manifests itself between 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 means they are more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment. A thorough examination by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. That includes a clinical interview, medical history review and physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with a good understanding of the individual and normative rating scales that are completed by loved ones and by educators. These can be helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that affects functioning. It is important to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue, such as depression or anxiety. In some instances, treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. Those diagnosed with the disorder need to be aware of possible side effects and treatment. They should also keep in touch with their doctor to ensure that the medication is functioning exactly as it should. The most common treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs which can help improve concentration and reduce impulsive behaviors. Other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and parent training, can be very efficient for both adults and children with this condition as well. It is important to remind those prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor on a regular basis, as certain patients may require adjustments in dosages or other treatment options.