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https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment
ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses Making a diagnosis is the first step towards understanding and addressing symptoms Find a licensed mental health professional or physician psychiatrist or neurologist or family doctor who specializes in ADHD evaluations and diagnoses The specialist will conduct a structured interview to examine your background They may ask for old reports and speak with parents relatives or even friends about childhood behaviors Signs and symptoms Children and adults who have symptoms of attentiondeficithyperactivity disorder ADHD often have trouble with paying close attention listening attentively and following directionsthings that come naturally to others These symptoms can also cause problems with relationships and learning at school work and at home If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms consult an GP They are unable to diagnose ADHD formally but can discuss your concerns and refer you to specialists if needed A GP can determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by asking questions looking over medical documents and your health history and then performing physical exam You may also mention the history of your familys ADHD to aid in the diagnosis The GP will then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment The evaluation could include the description and scales of your symptoms that are completed by you and your caregivers as well as a physical exam lab tests and a psychiatric exam Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children with the help of established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition They look for hyperactivity inattention and impulsivity patterns that last for six months or longer and determine if these symptoms affect your life at home at work and in 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 hyperactiveimpulsive presentation or a combination of both If your adult symptoms meet the criteria for diagnosis you can be treated with medication Psychostimulants are substances that alter neurotransmitters within the brain are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults These medications increase energy and alertness improving concentration and focus They may be given in extendedrelease forms to lessen adverse effects Adults with inattentive ADHD may be treated with antidepressants These medications including Wellbutrin bupropion and Effexor venlafaxine can affect neurotransmitters in the brain to enhance mood and focus Diagnosis A diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control of your symptoms that could affect your professional and personal lives A psychiatric evaluation is conducted by a licensed mental health professional or a physician psychiatrist or neurologist or family physician or another type of medical specialist A person with a symptombased diagnosis such as ADHD must follow certain guidelines set forth in the American Psychiatric Societys Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition to receive treatment for ADHD During the ADHD evaluation youll be asked questions about your childs behavior at home in school and in social settings They will also review your childs growth medical and family history They will then assess your childs behavior to the behaviors of other children who are of similar age They may use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of specific behaviors such as difficulty paying attention forgetting things and interrupting other children There are three presentations of ADHD predominately inattentive hyperactiveimpulsive and combined To be diagnosed with ADHD your child must meet six of the nine symptoms that fall under either the inattentive or the hyperactiveimpulsive categories They must be present in at least two settings cause your child to function poorly and last for at least at least six months If your child is not able to meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD Your healthcare provider will assign them unspecified ADHD They might also decide that your child does not have a hyperactiveimpulsive presentation of the condition and not give them an official ADHD diagnosis A thorough psychiatric examination could include neuropsychological and psychopsychological testing and cognitive tests that are computerbased Your healthcare provider will also conduct a physical examination and assess your childs heart rate to rule out medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that may mimic ADHD symptoms Teachers may also ask and parents for a thorough background and conduct an extensive interview of your child and family members Theyll also be looking into whether there is an ancestry of ADHD in the family as it is highly genetically inherited Treatment If a person has been diagnosed with ADHD he or she may need medication andor therapy for behavioral issues Behavioral therapy may include individual and family counseling and group therapy such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy To begin treatment you need to find a professional who specializes in ADHD diagnosis and is covered by insurance You can start by calling your insurance company or your local mental health support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of professionals in your area who specialize in ADHD Certain doctors utilize computer programs such as continuous tests for performance to look for attention and impulsivity problems Other doctors use brain scans like singlephoton emission computed tomography SPECT to look for abnormalities But experts agree that the most significant part of an evaluation is a patient interview During the interview the doctor will review the symptoms that led up to the appointment The clinician will also request information from someone who knows the patient well such as a spouse sibling or parent read article will also talk to teachers coaches nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient This is a very thorough process that could be a long time The clinician will prepare a report and discuss the results with the patient It is crucial to keep in mind that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the degree to that the symptoms affect the persons daily life This means that the persons symptoms must result in significant impairment in at least two major environments like work and home The impairment must have been present for at least six months in order to be considered an appropriate diagnosis of ADHD During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric history and determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Societys Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM5 A valid diagnosis of ADHD must be supported by at least three of these five symptoms trouble paying close attention to details and making careless mistakes difficulty staying focused on activities or tasks or tasks difficulty in listening to what you are spoken to and daydreaming or appearing distracted Prevention In many cases people who have inattention ADHD symptoms arent identified Theyre not as disruptive as those with hyperactive or impulsive forms of ADHD and they can be easily missed Their issues can have serious consequences They might not do well in school experience problems with their peers or struggle to find a job They also have to be treated with respect 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 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder The newer designation includes the fact that children could suffer from inattentive symptoms alone While many of the symptoms are common to all cases there are a few distinct ways in which the disorder manifests between boys and girls Girls and children assigned female at birth AFAB tend to show more inattentive symptoms which are less noticeable than the hyperactiveimpulsive symptoms This makes them more likely to go undiagnosed and less likely to receive treatment A reliable diagnosis requires a thorough assessment by a health professional This may include a medical history review as well as a clinical interview and physical examination It also involves reviewing the reports of teachers or parents or other adults who know the person as well as normed ratings scales that are that are completed by family members and teachers These are helpful in determining whether the symptoms are present in a way that impacts the functioning A careful evaluation is also important to determine if the symptoms are caused by a different psychiatric or medical condition like anxiety or depression In some cases treating these other disorders can aid in reducing or eliminating the ADHD symptoms Anyone diagnosed with the disorder must be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible side effects They should also stay in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working in the way it should The most popular treatment for inattentive ADHD is stimulant drugs that can aid in improving concentration and decrease impulsive behavior Adults and children with ADHD who are inattentive can benefit from other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy or parent training It is essential to remind people who are prescribed ADHD medication to see their doctors regularly as certain patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options