Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
For adults who are struggling with their personal or professional lives, diagnosing ADHD could be a crucial step in gaining control. A thorough evaluation is needed to determine if you have the diagnosis. This includes reviewing school records and questionnaires filled out by caregivers and teachers.
Most people with ADHD live with symptoms since the age of three, and it's not uncommon to be diagnosed in adulthood. NIMH offers suggestions on how to speak with your doctor about the disorder.
Diagnosis
It is crucial to be diagnosed with ADHD at an early age. This will help you manage the symptoms that can cause chaos in your professional and personal life. The first step is to talk with your GP or find a mental health professional who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your doctor is not familiar with ADHD or other disorders, they may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment.
Typically, a mental health professional will use the six-question ADHD screener to determine whether you may be suffering from the condition, according to Adler. The doctor will ask you questions about your ADHD-like symptoms and look over your medical and family history to ensure that other conditions aren't contributing to them.
People with ADHD tend to be easily distracted and can miss important details. They have a difficult time following directions in class or at work. They frequently lose essential items required for tasks or activities such as keys, wallets and tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused during long lectures or reading assignments. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, texting or talking too much or squirming in their seats.
It is important to rule out other medical conditions when determining whether someone suffers from adult ADHD. This includes depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical ailments like thyroid problems can also cause ADHD symptoms. In the DSM-5 professionals are now required to consider the severity of an individual's symptoms when diagnosing them as having ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.
Many people suffering from ADHD go their whole lives without ever getting a diagnosis because it's not evident in the early years. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing revelation because they finally understand why they struggled in school and could not attain their full potential at work or at home. Some may even feel guilty for blaming their problems on others or themselves, and they can experience sadness over the missed opportunities that could have been had when they were properly treated.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to consult a medical professional to have an assessment. This can be accomplished in person or by video conference. Only psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The doctor will require information about your medical history as well as your family's mental health issues. This is due to the fact that a number of emotional and physical conditions can cause symptoms that are similar to those associated with ADHD and must be ruled out before the diagnosis is made.
The professional will also ask about your lifestyle and work, and how your symptoms affect your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you showed signs of ADHD before age 12 years old. They might also interview people who knew you in your childhood and ask about their experiences.
A thorough medical history will aid your doctor in determining if you need medication or another treatment. Certain medical conditions, like thyroid disorders, sleep apnea and lead poisoning can cause ADHD symptoms. Adults with a history anxiety or depression need to be assessed and treated with more care, as these conditions often are in synergy.
If a doctor believes you need medication, he or she will prescribe the appropriate medication. get adhd diagnosis of medication you require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. Stimulants, the most common medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. They are not for everyone, and the first drug you try might not be effective or cause unwanted adverse negative effects. Your healthcare provider will want to know if you take any other medications that are not prescription drugs, such as over-the counter ones and supplements, since certain kinds of medications can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is an essential part of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal better with feelings of anger, failure and underachievement that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can help you learn to control your anger, improve your time management and organizational skills.
It is essential to find an expert in healthcare who specializes in mental illness. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD. However you might prefer to seek out a specialist therapist. These specialists are likely to be more knowledgeable about the difficulties of treating adults with ADHD and have had experience in helping other patients who are struggling with similar issues. You can search ADDitude or visit your local mental health clinic to find a professional that works with adults who have ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the first step towards managing your symptoms and enhancing your life. If you're struggling to realize your maximum potential in your work or have trouble maintaining relationships, or experience trouble completing tasks at home and at work, an ADHD diagnosis may be just what you need.
ADHD treatment for adults starts with a thorough interview and review of your medical history, including the symptoms you've experienced. The psychiatrist or psychologist will then determine if the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for ADHD apply to you. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that persist throughout most of your day and interfere with social, academic or professional functioning.
Adults with untreated ADHD frequently have coexisting disorders, like anxiety and depression. Jaksa states that these disorders can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD. Chronic stress and frustration over the lack of performance can cause feelings of low self-esteem he says. "Getting diagnosed will help them gain a perspective on the root of their issues. This may reduce or eliminate their worries and help them concentrate more productively on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults with ADHD are typically treated with a combination of medications along with behavior therapy. Stimulants can improve concentration, decrease impulsive behavior and aid in achieving organization. In many instances they can boost motivation and improve mood. Side effects of stimulants include insomnia and difficulty drinking enough or eating well. The mood swings can also happen in some people who take stimulants for ADHD and can be difficult to manage.
Discuss with your health care provider regarding whether you're a good candidate for clinical trials of upcoming treatments or medicines. These studies help researchers find more effective ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat conditions and diseases.
Counseling
If you're suffering from untreated ADHD it could cause various problems in all areas of your life. Your career, relationships and financial health can be negatively affected by procrastination, poor time management, impulsive spending and other signs. The first step in reducing the negative effects and getting control back is to obtain diagnosed and seek treatment.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD did not receive a diagnosis as children because their family and teachers were unaware of the condition or they experienced mild symptoms that were not noticed. Some adults might be able to manage their symptoms in childhood, but were unable to manage them in adulthood due to increasing family and work obligations.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, mental health professionals must discover that your symptoms are causing severe impairment in at least two aspects of your life. Impairment can result in losing your job due to of an inability to focus and organizational skills or being put on academic probation at college due to the inability to learn for tests.
Women are generally better in hiding their symptoms than men, which may make it difficult to receive a diagnosis. If you're struggling with ADHD symptoms that are affecting your home and work life and family life, speaking openly about them with your doctor can help accelerate the process and allow you to get reasonable accommodations under ADA and other workplace laws.
Your mental health professional, regardless of the type of ADHD you have, will be interested in knowing whether your symptoms started before the age of 12. They may ask you to talk with people who knew you during this period and could conduct a series of tests to assess your attention and memory levels.
After receiving a diagnosis, the doctor will suggest a combination of medication and non-medication therapy to help manage your symptoms. Most people will try several different methods before they discover the one that works for them. Keep a record of your progress, and consult your doctor frequently to modify your treatment plan as necessary.