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ADHD Evaluation – What Happens in the First Step? A healthcare professional conducting an ADHD assessment will ask you and your family members close to you — a spouse, sibling or a friend for adults — about symptoms. This often provides insight that questionnaires can't uncover. Diagnosing ADHD in adulthood is a bit more difficult because the guidelines for diagnosis are designed for children. It's crucial to find an ADHD specialist who will take the time to assess you. Signs and symptoms To conduct an ADHD assessment, the initial step is to allow the patient to discuss openly and honestly about the symptoms and how they affect his life. Some adults do not want to admit they struggle with paying attention to directions, or organising tasks, but getting an accurate diagnosis is the best way to get control of symptoms and live an enjoyable life. The person being evaluated is asked to tell them about their personal and medical history from childhood up to now. The evaluator will also review the American Psychiatric Association's guidelines for clinical care for the disorder, which are found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). To meet criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD, an adult must have a history of at least six established symptoms in one or both of two main categories—inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity—for six months. The symptoms must have caused significant impairment in at minimum two major situations, like work or school. In addition, the person evaluating must rule out any other conditions that may cause similar symptoms to ADHD, such as anxiety, depression or an intellectual disability. A doctor could also utilize ADHD symptom checklists or behavioral rating scales in addition to an interview to gather information on the severity of the symptoms. Psychological tests that test executive functioning, visual and spatial reasoning, and working memory can help identify ADHD symptoms in adults. Based on the specific situation doctors will often request permission to speak with people close to the person who can provide valuable information and help. They may ask for the names and contact numbers of parents, spouses or siblings to speak with them about the person's challenges at home and at the workplace. A physical examination is often part of an ADHD evaluation. It can help rule other conditions that may cause similar symptoms. For instance, thyroid issues and seizures can cause symptoms that look a lot similar to ADHD. The evaluator could conduct a neurological examination to see whether there is any sign of injury or damage to the brain that could explain the symptoms. The evaluator may also recommend urine and blood tests to check for the presence of other medical conditions that could interfere with treatment, such as depression or alcohol and substance abuse. Diagnosis Your doctor will be able to examine symptoms that can be seen in different settings, like at home, work or at school. They should also last for a significant period of time. Then, the doctor will assess how much these symptoms impact your everyday life. If they cause a lot of trouble, it's likely that you or your child will meet the criteria for a diagnosis of either inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. To diagnose children, doctors follow the guidelines of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-V). They will discuss the symptoms of your child and how they impact their lives. They may also conduct an interview. The interview will cover your child's medical history, family history, and psychiatric background. They will also inquire about the impact of your child's behavior on their mood, behavior and work. For adults, it is more difficult to establish a diagnosis. The DSM-V is a diagnostic tool designed for children. There is some debate as to whether the criteria are still applicable in adulthood. To meet the criteria for a diagnosis, an adult must have 6 or more symptoms of inattentive ADHD or 7 or more symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. They must be suffering from these symptoms for a prolonged duration of time and have them significantly interfere with their daily life at school, home, or work. In addition to conducting a clinical interview, your doctor could request additional tests to determine the extent of your or your child's symptoms. This could include a blood or EEG test. Other tests can be used to rule out a condition that is causing similar symptoms, for example, depression or learning disabilities. To find a specialist to evaluate your your child's ADHD begin by asking your family doctor for a referral. You can also call your insurance company to find out whether there are any specialists covered under your plan who specialize in ADHD evaluations for adults. Another option is to contact a local support group and solicit recommendations. You can also try calling the hospital of a university or medical or graduate school for an inventory of professionals who conduct ADHD evaluations. Treatment Symptoms of ADHD can lead to serious issues at school and work and can affect relationships. If you are diagnosed with ADHD, taking medication and improving your functioning can help reduce symptoms. Patients with ADHD may also need to adjust their lifestyle, such as changing their sleep schedules, using daily planners or ad hoc exercise. A person with ADHD should see his or her primary care provider or a mental health professional or both to receive an assessment. In the interview in person an expert will discuss topics such as the development of the disorder, family history, lifestyle and current symptoms. The practitioner will ask about the person's performance productivity, as well as if they have problems with impulsive or focused actions. They will want to know about how the symptoms have lasted on, the location and time they first began and how much stress or problems they can cause. The evaluator will likely want to talk to other people in the life of the patient, such as spouses, parents or siblings for adults as well as coaches, teachers, daycare providers or friends for children. They can provide information that questionnaires are unable to provide be able to provide, for instance, the fact that a person often fails to remember or stops doing tasks in mid-stream. They can also reveal what triggers symptoms. Many behavioral therapies and medicines treat ADHD. Medications may include stimulants like amphetamine as well as non-stimulant drugs such as atomoxetine (Serenade) and dexamfetamine (Vyvanse). These drugs boost blood flow to the brain and suppress the impulse to act that allow people to pay attention and follow instructions. They can be taken orally or intravenously, and are usually well tolerated. Therapy can help people with ADHD create strategies to compensate for the challenges they encounter. Iam Psychiatry can help individuals learn how to manage their lives, keep track of appointments, and provide assistance and guidance in dealing with the effect ADHD symptoms can have on work and home life. Marriage and family therapy can help with issues caused by the disorder in relationships and also teach how to handle conflict and disagreement that may occur in these situations. Medication To determine if your child has ADHD A health care professional must consider various factors. They will ask your child about his or her symptoms at school, at home and other places. They may also employ questionnaires and scales that are specifically designed for ADHD. They may also request an information about the family history. They will look for other conditions that could cause the symptoms, such as mood disorders or learning disabilities. They will also assess how severe the symptoms are and if they impact your child's daily life. There is no physical test to diagnose ADHD. This includes blood tests and X-rays. The healthcare provider for your child follows guidelines set by the American Psychiatric Association to diagnose ADHD. These guidelines are designed for children 4 to 18 years of age. Adults are more difficult to identify. The symptoms of ADHD may change over time. People who have ADHD can be diagnosed as predominately inattentive, predominately hyperactive-impulsive or a combination of the two. A child must exhibit six or more symptoms listed in the guidelines to be classified with ADHD. The guidelines also stipulate that the symptoms must be present for at least six months. If your child is being tested for ADHD, it's important that someone who is familiar with them conducts an interview. Included in this are their teachers, coaches, religious leaders, and other caregivers. They should also be informed about how their symptoms affect their daily lives and how they compare to other children their age. The most popular treatment for ADHD is medication. Both nonstimulant and stimulant medications can be prescribed to treat ADHD. Stimulants, like amphetamine and methylphenidate are the most frequently prescribed. These medications help to increase and balance levels of certain brain chemicals. Other drugs that can be used to treat ADHD include the antidepressant atomoxetine and some antipsychotics. They are less potent than stimulants, but they can be beneficial for those who cannot take stimulants due to serious side effects or health issues. Medications can be used in conjunction with other treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy.