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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, or family doctor) who specializes in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses. The expert will conduct a structured interview to examine your background. They may want to see old reports and speak to parents, relatives or even friends about your childhood habits. 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 interfere with relationships and learning at home, school and at work. If diagnosing adhd uk or your child is suffering from these symptoms, talk to an GP. They cannot diagnose ADHD in a formal way, but they can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed. A GP can determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms by asking questions, looking over medical documents and your health history, and then performing a physical exam. You may also mention the history of ADHD in your family members to aid in the diagnosis. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include a description of your symptoms as well as questionnaires and scales filled out by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical exam and lab tests. Psychiatrists and psychology can diagnose ADHD among children and adolescents using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. This includes looking for patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, at work or school. Adults can also 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 you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults, you may be prescribed medication. Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to affect neurotransmitters. These medications improve focus and concentration, while increasing energy and alertness. They can be prescribed in an extended-release version to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive presentation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter the brain's neurotransmitters and improve focus and mood. Diagnosis Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step to taking control of symptoms that could be affecting your daily life, both personally and professionally. A psychiatric examination can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor, or any other kind of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis such as ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD. During the ADHD assessment, you will be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school and in social settings. They will also review your child's growth, medical and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior against the behavior of other children his age. They can use standard rating scales that measure the frequency of specific behavior problems, such as difficulty paying attention, forgetting things and 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 occur in more than one setting, affect your child's functioning and cause disruption, and have been present for at least six (6) months. If your child isn't meeting 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment can include computer-based psychological and cognitive tests as well as 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 conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be a cause of ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and parents for a thorough history of your child's development and conduct a thorough interview of your child and family. They will also consider whether there is a history of ADHD in the family, as it is highly inheritable. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been diagnosed with ADHD, they might require medication and/or therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy can include family and individual counseling, as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, it is necessary to locate a specialist who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. 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 attention and impulsivity problems. Some doctors also use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most important part of an evaluation is a patient-patient interview. During an interview, the physician will review the symptoms that prompted the appointment. The clinician may also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient, like their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The doctor will also interview teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a lengthy process and can take up to an hour. The physician will then write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings of the examination with the patient. It is vital to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on the extent to which the symptoms affect the life of a person. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major situations, including work and home. For ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder must have been present for at least six month. During the interview, the doctor will discuss the person's medical and psychiatric history and determine whether or not the person meets the diagnostic criteria set 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: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak. Prevention Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive kinds of ADHD and are often ignored. The issues they face can have severe consequences. They may not do well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to hold jobs. These people need to be treated, 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 an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer definition takes into account that children may only have symptoms of inattention. While many of the symptoms are common to all instances, there are distinct ways in which 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 increases the likelihood that they will not be diagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment. A thorough examination by a medical professional is essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. That includes the clinical interview, medical history review, and a physical examination. It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers, parents or other adults who know the person well and also standard scales of rating completed by loved ones and teachers. These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present to a degree that they affect the way you function. A thorough examination is crucial to determine if the symptoms are due to another psychiatric or medical condition, such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, treating other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms. People who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what to expect from the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is working as it should. Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment for inattention ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Children and adults with inattentive ADHD may benefit from other treatment options like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.