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https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment

ADHD Evaluations and Diagnoses The first step to manage symptoms is to get an accurate diagnosis Find a licensed mental health professional psychiatrists neurologists family doctors who is proficient in ADHD assessments The specialist will conduct an interview designed to look at your past They might request old reports and talk to your family members teachers or friends to learn about your childhood habits 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 The symptoms also may interfere with relationships and learning at school work and home If you or your child is suffering from these symptoms speak to a GP They cant formally diagnose ADHD but they can discuss your concerns with you and recommend specialist services if needed A GP can help you determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD by asking questions reviewing your medical and health records and completing a physical exam You may also mention the background of ADHD in your family to aid in the diagnosis The GP can then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct a psychiatric assessment The evaluation may include the description and scales of your symptoms completed by you and your caregivers and a physical exam lab tests and a psychiatric examination Psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD in adolescents and children by using established guidelines from the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition This includes looking for a pattern of inattention hyperactivity and impulsivity that lasts for at least six months and determining if these symptoms significantly interfere with your daily routine at home at work or school Adults may be diagnosed with ADHD in the same manner however their symptoms are more likely to present differently as they get older They can have a predominantly inattentive presentation of the disorder a predominantly hyperactiveimpulsive presentation or a combination of both If you meet the requirements for diagnosis and your symptoms are adultspecific you may be prescribed medication Psychostimulants which affect neurotransmitters in the brain are often prescribed to treat ADHD in adults These drugs boost energy and alertness improving focus and concentration They are available as extendedrelease versions to minimize side effects Antidepressants are often used to treat the inattentive manifestation of ADHD in adults These medications like Wellbutrin and Effexor affect neurotransmitters and improve mood and concentration Diagnosis Finding out if you have ADHD is the first step towards controlling the symptoms that could be affecting your daily life both personally and professionally A licensed mental health professional psychiatrists or neurologists or family doctors can conduct a psychiatric assessment A person with a diagnosis based on symptoms like ADHD must follow certain guidelines laid out in the American Psychiatric Societys Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition for treatment for ADHD During an ADHD evaluation Your healthcare provider will inquire about your childs behavior at school at home and in social settings Your childs medical history as well as family history and development will be reviewed They will then evaluate your childs behavior to the behavior of other children their age They could use standardized rating scales that assess the frequency of certain behaviors such as difficulty in paying attention ignoring things and interrupting others 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 occur in a variety of settings affect your childs functioning and cause dysfunction and be present for at least six months If your child does not meet the criteria to qualify for a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD the healthcare professional will assign them an 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 complete psychiatric examination may include tests for psychological and cognitive abilities that are computerbased as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical examination and assess your childs heart rate to eliminate medical issues like thyroid disorders and head injuries that could mimic ADHD symptoms They may also ask for an extensive history of the problem from teachers and caregivers and perform a thorough interview with your child and family members They will also consider whether there is any history of ADHD in the family as it is highly heritable Treatment If a person has been diagnosed as having ADHD they may need medication or behavioral therapy Behavioral therapy may include family and individual counseling as well as group therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy CBT and dialectical behavior therapy DBT The first step in getting treatment is to locate an specialist in diagnosing ADHD who is covered by your insurance Start by contacting your insurer or asking the local mental health support group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for the names of specialists in your area who specialize in ADHD Some doctors use computer programs like continuous tests for performance to look for problems with attention and impulsivity Other doctors utilize brain scans such as single photon emission computed Tomography SPECT to check for abnormalities Experts agree that the patients interview is the most important element of an assessment During an interview the clinician will go over the symptoms that led to the appointment The clinician may also seek out someone who is familiar with the patient such as their spouse parent or sibling for information The clinician will also talk to teachers as well as coaches nannies and other adults who spend a lot of time with the patient This is a thorough procedure that can take an hour or more The doctor will write an evaluation report and then discuss the findings with the patient It is important to remember that a diagnosis of ADHD will depend on the extent to which the symptoms impact the individuals daily activities The symptoms have to be causing significant impairment in two major settings such as at work and at home For Iam Psychiatry to be recognized the impairment must have been present at least six months During the interview the clinician will discuss with the patient their medical and psychiatric histories and determine if they satisfy the diagnostic criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Assocations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM5 A valid diagnosis of ADHD requires at least three of the following five symptoms that include difficulty paying attention to details making careless errors difficulty staying focused on work or other activities and difficulty listening to someones words when they speak Prevention People who have inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed Theyre not as disruptive as the hyperactive or impulsive types of ADHD and they are often missed Their problems can have serious consequences They might not do well at school have disagreements with their peers or struggle to keep a job These people require treatment too The term ADD is still used frequently 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 is based on the fact that children could be affected by inattention symptoms on their own There are some differences in the way that the disorder is manifested by girls and boys Girls and children assigned female at birth AFAB tend to show more inattentive symptoms which are less noticeable than the hyperactiveimpulsive symptoms This increases the likelihood that they will go undiagnosed and receive less treatment An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough examination by a medical professional This may include an examination of the medical history 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 and also standard ratings scales that are completed by loved ones and educators These can be helpful in determining if the symptoms are present to a degree that impacts the functioning It is important to conduct a thorough assessment in order to determine whether the symptoms are due to another medical or psychiatric condition like anxiety or depression In some instances the treatment of other disorders may aid in reducing or eliminating ADHD symptoms Anyone diagnosed with the disorder should be aware of what is expected of the treatment and possible adverse effects They should also remain in contact with their doctor to ensure that the medication is working as it should Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment for inattentive ADHD They can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior Children and adults with ADHD who are inattentive might benefit from other treatments like cognitive behavior therapy or parent training People who are prescribed ADHD medication should be advised to have regular checkups with their health professionals since some patients may require adjustments to dosages or other treatment options