ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step in managing symptoms is to receive a diagnosis Find a licensed mental healthcare professional psychiatrists or neurologists, family physicians who is proficient in ADHD assessments The expert will conduct an interview that is structured to look into your background They may ask for old report cards and speak with parents, relatives or even friends about your childhood habits 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 learning and relationships at home, school and work If you or your ***** is suffering from these symptoms, speak to an GP They can't formally diagnose ADHD however, they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services, if needed A GP can determine if you have ADHD symptoms by asking questions, examining medical records and your medical history, and then performing a physical exam It is also possible to discuss the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric evaluation The evaluation could include the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers, and a physical exam, lab tests and a psychiatric evaluation Psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents by following established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition They look for inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity behaviors that last for at least six months, and evaluate whether these symptoms impact your daily family life, at home at work, or in school Adults can be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner, but their symptoms are more 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 you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are specific to adults you could be prescribed medication Adults who suffer from ADHD are often prescribed psychostimulants to alter neurotransmitters These medications increase energy and alertness, while also improving concentration and focus These medications may be given in extended-release versions to minimize the risk of the effects of side effects Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the inattention manifestation of ADHD in adults These medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor can affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you take control of the symptoms that could be affecting both your professional and personal lives A psychiatric examination can be conducted by a licensed mental health professional or a physician psychiatrist, neurologist, family physician or another type of medical specialist A person with a symptom-based diagnosis like ADHD must adhere to specific guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to be eligible for treatment for ADHD During an ADHD assessment your healthcare provider will ask questions about your *****'s behavior at home, school and social environments The medical history of your *****, development and family history will be examined They will then compare your *****'s behavior with that of other children his age They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behavior problems, 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 ***** 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 make your ***** perform poorly, and last for at least six months If your ***** doesn't meet the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD, your healthcare provider will assign them unspecified ADHD They might also decide that your ***** does not have a hyperactive-impulsive presentation of the condition and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis A complete psychiatric examination may include computer-based cognitive and psychological tests and psychological and neuropsychological testing Your healthcare provider will also assess your *****'s blood pressure, and perform a physical exam to identify any medical issues that may mimic ADHD symptoms, such as thyroid disorders or head injuries Austerman 2015 They might also request details about the problem from caregivers and teachers, and perform a thorough interview with your ***** and family members They will take into consideration whether there is an ancestral history of ADHD because ADHD is highly hereditary Treatment If someone has been diagnosed as having ADHD it is possible that they will require medication or behavioral therapy Behavioral therapy could include family and individual counseling, as also group therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy CBT and dialectical behavior therapy DBT To begin treatment, you must first locate a professional who has expertise in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance You can begin by contacting your insurance company or the 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 Some doctors use computer-based tests, like continuous performances tests, to determine problems with attention and impulse control Other doctors use brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography SPECT to check for abnormalities Experts agree that the patient interview is the most important component of an evaluation During the interview, the therapist will discuss the symptoms that led to the appointment The doctor may also seek out someone who is very familiar with the patient like their spouse, parent or sibling, for details The clinician will also talk to teachers or coaches, nannies, and other adults who spend considerable time with the patient This is a thorough procedure that can be a long time The doctor will write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient It is crucial to keep in mind that the diagnosis of ADHD will be based on the degree to that the symptoms affect the individual's daily activities This means that the symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two important settings like at work and at home In order for ADHD to be diagnosed the disorder 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 patient is in compliance with 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 minimum three of the following five symptoms difficulty paying attention to particulars, making mistakes or omissions, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and trouble listening to someone's voice when they speak Prevention Most people with inattentional ADHD symptoms don't get diagnosed They aren't as disruptive as hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and can be easily ignored The issues they face can have severe consequences They may not do well at school, have problems with their peers, or struggle to keep an occupation These individuals require treatment, too Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the official name of the condition The term ADD is still used from time to time but it's not the most commonly used The newer version recognizes that children may only suffer from inattentive symptom While many of the symptoms are present in all cases, there are some differences in how the disorder manifests 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 them more likely to go undiagnosed, and less likely to receive treatment An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by a health care professional https//wwwadhddiagnosistop/ includes 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, teachers or other people who know the person as well as standard ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and educators These can be useful in determining if the symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in functioning It is crucial to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether the symptoms are related to other psychiatric or medical condition such as depression or anxiety In some instances the treatment of these other disorders can help relieve or eliminate the ADHD symptoms People who have been diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of the treatment they receive and potential side effects They should also keep in touch with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the medication is working in the way they should Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment for inattention ADHD They can help improve concentration and reduce the impulsive behavior Other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and parent education, can be very beneficial for adults and children with this condition too It is essential to remind those who are prescribed ADHD medication to visit their doctor regularly, since certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options