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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to managing symptoms is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Find an accredited mental health specialist or physician (psychiatrist or neurologist, family doctor) who is skilled in ADHD diagnosis and evaluation. The expert will conduct an interview structured to review your past. They might request old reports, and talk to family members, teachers or friends to get information about your childhood behaviors. 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 learning and relationships at school, work and at home. Talk to your GP if you or your child displays these symptoms. 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 performing an examination. You may also discuss the background of ADHD in your family to aid in diagnosis. The GP will then recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct a psychiatric examination. The evaluation may include the description of your symptoms, questionnaires and scales completed by your caregivers, you and teachers as well as a psychiatric history, 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. These include looking for an inattention pattern or hyperactivity that lasts for six months or more, and evaluating whether these symptoms are affecting your daily life at home, at work or school. Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms tend 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 your adult symptoms are in line with the criteria for diagnosis, you can be treated with medication. Adults with ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants that alter neurotransmitters. These drugs improve focus and concentration, while improving alertness and energy. They may be given as extended-release versions to minimize the risk of adverse effects. Antidepressants can be employed to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults. These medications, including Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Effexor (venlafaxine) can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve focus and mood. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal life. A psychiatric examination can be performed by an accredited mental health professional or physician (psychiatrist, neurologist, family doctor or other type of medical specialist). A person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD, must meet certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to receive treatment for ADHD. During the ADHD evaluation, you'll be asked questions about your child’s behavior at home, in school as well as in social situations. They will also go over your child's growth medical and family history. They will then compare your child's behaviors to those of other children their age. They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behaviors, such as difficulty in paying attention, forgetting things or 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 that affect your child's behavior and cause dysfunction, and have been present for at least six (6) months. If your child is not able to meet all of the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment can include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests as well as psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and examine your child's heart rate to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid disorders and head injuries that may be similar to ADHD symptoms. They may also ask teachers and caregivers to provide a full background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family. They will also consider whether there is any family history of ADHD, as the condition is highly genetically inherited. Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD the person might require medication and/or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to receive treatment is to find an expert in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer or asking a local mental health support group like the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD, for names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD. Some doctors use computer tests, like continuous performance tests, to test for issues with impulse control and attention. Other doctors use brain scans like single photon emission computed Tomography (SPECT) to check for abnormalities. But experts agree that the most crucial element of an evaluation is an interview with the patient. During the interview, the doctor will review the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor will also ask for details from someone who knows the patient very well, such as a spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend significant time with the patient. This is a thorough process and can be a long time. The doctor will write the report, and then discuss the results with the patient. It is vital to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD is based on how the symptoms interfere with the person's daily life. This means that the patient's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at minimum two major situations, including home and work. In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the condition must have been present for at least six months. During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and mental health history and determine if they satisfy 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 must be backed by at least three of the five symptom categories: trouble paying close attention to specifics and making mistakes, difficulty remaining focused on work or activities or tasks, difficulty in listening to what you are talking to others and daydreaming or appearing distracted. The following is a list of preventatives. Often, people with inattentive ADHD symptoms aren't diagnosed. They're not as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and are often overlooked. Their problems can have serious consequences. They may not do well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to keep a job. They require treatment, as well. 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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The newer designation takes into account the fact that children can suffer from inattentive symptoms alone. While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few variations in the way that 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 go undiagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is required to make an accurate diagnosis. That includes an interview with a clinician, a medical history review, and a physical examination. It involves examining reports from parents, teachers, or other adults with a good knowledge of the individual, and normative rating scales, both by loved ones as well as educators. These are useful in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning. A thorough evaluation is important to determine if the symptoms are caused by another medical or mental illness, such as anxiety or depression. In some instances, treating these other disorders can alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what to expect in terms of their treatment and possible medication adverse effects. They should also keep in contact with their physician to make sure that the medication is functioning as it should. Stimulant medications are the most common treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and parent training are very efficient for both adults and children with this condition too. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications are advised to have regular checks with their healthcare providers, as some patients require adjustments in dosage or other treatment options.