https://www.iampsychiatry.com/private-adhd-assessment Diagnosing ADHD Adults are often seeking the diagnosis of ADHD when their symptoms disrupt their lives. They could lose their job, have difficulty maintaining contact with their friends, or have issues with their marriage. A thorough evaluation starts with a medical interview. Health care professionals use questionnaires and standard rating scales as well as information from family and other people who know the patient well. Medical History If a doctor wants to determine if you suffer from ADHD, they will require a thorough medical history. This is essential to determine whether the symptoms are due to an underlying health issue such as depression or anxiety or a physical condition such as head injuries or thyroid diseases. allows the doctor to avoid prescribing a patient a drug that could interact with other medications or cause adverse side effects. To determine ADHD Health care professionals adhere to the American Psychiatric association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5 guidelines. The professionals are looking for signs of six or more. These include a lack of attention to detail and making erroneous mistakes, not being able to finish assignments at school or at work difficulty in listening or appearing distracted, forgetfulness and problems with tasks requiring sustained mental effort. ADHD is a disorder that is complex. The likelihood of developing the disorder is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic causes. Many environmental factors can cause ADHD symptoms, such as being born with a low birth weight, being exposed during pregnancy to toxins, stress or head trauma, as well as chronic or untreated viral infections. Adults suffering from ADHD are often misdiagnosed and left untreated. They may have a hard to admit they have issues particularly if their childhood experiences were not positive or when they have developed effective coping mechanisms.