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ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to managing symptoms is to get a diagnosis. Find a licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors) who is proficient in ADHD assessments. The specialist will conduct an organized interview to review your background. adhd adult diagnosis uk might want to look at old report cards and speak with parents, relatives or even 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 cause problems with learning and relationships at school, at home and work. Consult your GP 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 specialists, if required. A GP can assist you in determining if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions, reviewing your medical and health records and conducting physical examination. It is also possible to mention the history of ADHD in your family to help with diagnosis. The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment. The evaluation could include the description of your symptoms along with questionnaires and scales that are completed by your caregivers, you and teachers, a psychiatric history and physical examination and laboratory tests. Psychiatrists and psychologists can 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 hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for a period of six months or more and determine if these symptoms impact your daily family life, at home at work, at home, and in school. Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however, their symptoms are more 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 your adult symptoms meet the criteria for diagnosis, you could be treated with medication. Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs boost energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus. These medications can be administered in extended-release form to minimize the risk of side effects. Antidepressants can be used to treat the inattentive symptoms of ADHD in adults. These medications, like Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters, and improve mood and concentration. Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could be affecting both your personal and professional life. A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) can conduct a psychiatric assessment. To receive treatment for ADHD or other disorders, a person who has an underlying symptom-based diagnosis (such as ADHD) must meet 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 ask questions about your child's behavior at school, at home and in social environments. They will also go over your child's developmental medical history and family history. Then, they will compare your child's behavior to that of other children his age. They can use standard rating scales to measure the frequency of certain behavior problems, such as difficulty 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 be present in at least two environments and cause your child to perform poorly, and last for six months. If your child does not meet the criteria 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 comprehensive psychiatric assessment may include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests and psychological and neuropsychological tests. Your healthcare provider will also examine your child's blood pressure and conduct an examination to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be a cause of ADHD symptoms such as thyroid disorders or head injuries (Austerman 2015). They might also request a detailed history of the problem from parents and teachers and conduct a thorough interview with your child and family members. They will consider whether there is a family history of ADHD since ADHD is highly hereditary. Treatment If someone has been identified as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling as well as group therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The first step to get treatment is to locate an specialist in the field of diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance. Start by contacting your insurer 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 area. Some doctors make use of computer programs, like continuous tests of performance, to test for problems with attention and impulsivity. Others use brain scans, like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to look for signs of abnormalities. However, experts agree that the most significant element of an examination is a patient-patient interview. During the interview, the doctor will discuss the symptoms that led up to the appointment. The doctor may also request details from someone who knows the patient well for example, the spouse, sibling or parent. The clinician will also interview teachers as well as coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient. This is a very thorough process and can take an hour or more. The clinician will then complete an assessment report and discuss the results of the examination with the patient. It is essential to remember that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the extent to that the symptoms affect the person's everyday life. This means that the individual's symptoms must cause significant impairment in at least two major settings, such as the workplace and at home. The impairment must be present for at least six months in order to be considered a valid diagnosis of ADHD. During the interview, a clinician will discuss the person's medical and mental health history and determine if the patient meets the diagnostic criteria set 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 following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to specifics, making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or other activities, and trouble 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, or as impulsive as hyperactive ADHD and can be overlooked. However, their issues can have consequences: they may not perform well at school, get into trouble with peers or have difficulty to hold a job. These individuals need to be treated, too. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official term used to describe the condition. The term ADD is still occasionally used but it's not the most commonly used. The newer definition is based on the fact that children could be suffering from symptoms of inattention on their own. While many of the symptoms are common to all cases, there are a few differences in how the disorder manifests 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 makes it more likely that they are not diagnosed and receive less treatment. A thorough assessment by a medical professional is required to establish an accurate diagnosis. This may include an assessment of medical history as well as a clinical interview and a physical exam. It is also a matter of reviewing reports from teachers, parents or other adults who know the person as well as standard scales of rating that are completed by family members and teachers. These are useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to impact functioning. It is essential to conduct a thorough examination to determine if the symptoms are caused by another psychiatric or medical issue like depression or anxiety. In some instances the treatment of other disorders may help to alleviate or eliminate ADHD symptoms. People who are who have been diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of the potential adverse effects and treatments. They should also remain in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working as it should. Stimulant medications are the most popular treatment of inattentive ADHD. They can help improve concentration and decrease impulsive behavior. Other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education can be extremely effective for children and adults with this condition as well. Those who are prescribed ADHD medications should also be advised to seek regular checks with their healthcare providers because some patients require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options.