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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms. Find a licensed mental healthcare professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD evaluations. The specialist will conduct an interview that is designed to look at your past. They may want to see old reports and speak to teachers, relatives or friends about 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. These symptoms can also interfere with relationships and learning at school, home and at work. Consult Iam Psychiatry if you or your child displays these symptoms. They can't formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and refer you to specialist services, if needed. A GP can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, looking over your medical and health records and completing physical examination. You may also mention your family's history of ADHD to aid in determining the cause. The GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to complete a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers along with a psychiatric assessment, physical examination and laboratory tests. Psychologists and psychiatrists are able to diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. They look for inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity patterns that last for at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms impact your daily life at home, at work, and at school. Adults can 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 your adult symptoms meet the guidelines for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants, which affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, improving focus and concentration. They are available as extended-release versions to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) alter neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of symptoms which may affect your professional and personal lives. A psychiatric assessment can be conducted by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist). To receive treatment for ADHD someone with a diagnosis based on symptoms (such as ADHD) must adhere to certain guidelines set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association. During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will inquire regarding your child's behavior in school, at home and in social environments. Your child's medical history as well as family history and development will be studied. They will then assess your child's behaviors to the behaviors of other children who are their age. They may use standardized ratings scales to gauge the frequency of certain behavioral problems, like inability to focus, 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 different settings that cause your child to perform poorly and last for at least six months. If your child doesn't 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 examination may include neuropsychological and psychological testing, and computer-based cognitive tests. Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and assess your child's heart rate to eliminate medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or head injuries that could be similar to ADHD symptoms. Teachers may also ask and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview with your child and family. They will also consider whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family, since it is highly genetically inherited. Treatment If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require treatment with medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can include individual and family counseling as in addition to group therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To start treatment, it is necessary to locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance. You can start by calling your insurance company or your local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous performance tests, to check for impulsivity and attention issues. Others utilize brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to look for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most significant part of an evaluation is a patient interview. During an interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led to the appointment. The clinician may also seek out someone who is very familiar with the patient, such as their spouse, parent or sibling for information. The doctor will also speak with teachers, coaches, nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient. This is a thorough process that can take up to an hour. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the results with the patient. It is crucial to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD depends on the extent to which the symptoms affect a person's life. This means that the individual's symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two main situations, including the workplace and at home. The impairment must have been present for at least six months to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD. During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5. A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the following five symptoms: difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and difficulty listening to someone's voice when they speak. Prevention In many cases, people who have inattention ADHD symptoms aren't identified. They're not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and can be easily overlooked. Their issues can have serious consequences. They might not do well in school, experience conflicts with their classmates or struggle to find an occupation. They also have to be treated. The term ADD is still used frequently 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 may be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own. While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how 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 increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed, and less likely to seek treatment. A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers or other adults with an understanding of the person, as well as normative ratings scales that are completed by family members and teachers. These are helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to a degree that affects functioning. A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression. In some cases treatment of other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms. Those who are diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential adverse effects. They should also remain in contact with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medications are functioning exactly as they should. Stimulant drugs are the most popular treatment for inattention ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior. Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training. Patients who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to schedule regular check-ups with their health professionals because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.