How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
Adults should undergo a thorough examination by an expert in mental health or health care provider to establish the diagnosis of ADHD. This may include interviews of the patient as well as family members or colleagues.
The person who is being evaluated could be required to fill out questionnaires or write up their thoughts regarding their childhood behavior. A comprehensive evaluation may also include screening for ADHD symptoms as well as a series of psychological tests.
Signs and symptoms
Many people with ADHD are diagnosed only after the symptoms are more apparent in their daily lives. It is crucial to be aware of the symptoms so that you can talk with a medical professional regarding your concerns. The evaluator may ask you about your symptoms as a child. This is because, as per current guidelines, a diagnosis can be established if the symptoms began prior to the age of 12.
For instance, do you often forget appointments or miss deadlines? Are you struggling to keep track of your financial records or other obligations? Are you impulsive and often make rash decisions that could strain relationships with your family, friends and co-workers? These behaviors may be a sign of ADHD. This can make it difficult to sustain a successful career and manage relationships. Treatment can ease the symptoms and help you to reach your personal and professional goals.
Adults can have symptoms similar to children however, they may have different symptoms in the way they perform at work and in social lives. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Moderate symptoms can result in noticeable disruptions to your performance. In extreme cases, symptoms can cause problems with finances and relationships, as well as issues in your job or at school.
If you suspect you may have ADHD, you should first consult your primary care doctor to get an appointment with an expert in mental health who can perform an evaluation. You can also request a list from your health insurance provider of professionals who can assess ADHD or other disorders. Another good source is an ADHD support group. Members can offer suggestions for specialists in your region.
In addition to assessing your symptoms, the evaluator will review your medical and mental health history, complete the list of questions you have asked, and ask other people (such as parents, teachers, spouses or close friends) who are familiar with you fill out questionnaires and surveys. The evaluator might also decide to conduct a physical exam and psycho-neuropsychological, neuropsychological or learning disabilities testing, if needed.
Diagnosis
If ADHD symptoms affect daily life for an adult, they may require a visit to an primary care physician or mental health provider. The evaluation will look over the patient's medical and mental health history, interview the person about their symptoms, utilize rating scales or checklists to evaluate ADHD-related symptoms and complete psychological tests to measure working memory and executive functions (abilities that involve the ability to plan and make decisions) as well as spatial and visual ability. Psychological or neuropsychological tests can be used to determine whether a coexisting condition is the cause of the person's symptoms.
During the process of assessment the assessor will talk to the person about their symptoms and problems they're facing at home, in school, and at work. It is crucial for the person being evaluated to be honest and not hide information to avoid shame or embarrassment. In most cases, the person being evaluated will ask the person's significant other as well as close family and friends members. This is done to provide a more complete picture of the individual's struggles and their impact on the individual's relationships.
The evaluator will look for signs in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5) to determine ADHD. These include difficulty paying attention or making careless mistakes, difficulty staying focused on work or other activities, and problems with following directions, finishing schoolwork, chores and other job responsibilities. The evaluator may also inquire about the person's family history and childhood of ADHD.
If the evaluation finds that the person has ADHD and they determine that the person has ADHD, they will refer them to a specialist who can offer treatments. Adults may have a poor or unclear memory of childhood experiences or psychiatric assessments. The person being evaluated will need to request their parents, or others, to fill out retrospective ADHD profile. This will enable the evaluator verify childhood ADHD symptoms and diagnosis ADHD as a disorder that is present. Certain people suffering from ADHD are more likely to experience co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance misuse. These other conditions must be addressed to ease the symptoms of ADHD.
Treatment
Seek help if you are having trouble completing tasks at home or work, or if you experience inattention or impulsive behavior. Find a mental health professional who has special training in working with adults suffering from ADHD, or an primary medical doctor. Ask your family and friends for suggestions or look for professionals in your area via the internet. Read reviews about professionals before you visit them, and ensure that your insurance will cover the expenses.
You should be experiencing symptoms more than once a week, and they need to cause impairment in multiple areas of your life. The impairment can be seen in the form of losing your job or facing financial problems due to excessive spending or failing classes at school or marital issues, or trouble with relationships with family and friends. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, contains the American Psychiatric Association's guidelines for ADHD. The DSM-5 criteria include an explanation and assessment of your symptoms by your caregivers, you, and teachers. It also provides a complete medical history.
There are many forms of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD, including psychotherapy and medication. Behavioral therapy helps you learn to manage and modify your behavior. It can also aid in improving your problem-solving and organizational skills. Psychotherapy can help you learn to recognize the relationship between you and your ADHD and identify negative patterns of thinking that contribute to the disorder.
resources can be helpful for treating anxiety, depression, or substance misuse and can help you manage your ADHD. Marital counseling and family therapy are also beneficial particularly if your spouse or children suffer from ADHD and struggle with the same issues as you do.
The most effective treatments for adults with ADHD consist of a mix of treatments. The first step is to talk with your GP and ask them to refer you to the right treatment for you. Your GP will be able to advise you if an assessment for ADHD is the right step to take.
Support
People with ADHD can benefit from support groups in which they can share their experiences and learn from each other. In addition to providing emotional assistance, these groups can also assist in teaching people about ADHD, treatment options and coping skills. It may be helpful for people with ADHD to seek out professional assistance in managing their symptoms. Some professionals offer specific services for adults with ADHD and others offer more general therapy sessions.
Talk therapy is one method to control the symptoms of ADHD. Therapists can help people improve their self-esteem and work with them to discover more effective ways to deal with anger and stress. Some therapy professionals specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a method that focuses on changing the way an individual thinks and behaves.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often face problems that were not present when they were kids, such as financial difficulties, relationship conflicts and academic issues. Individual talk therapy can help individuals deal with these issues and work to overcome negative emotions such as shame, embarrassment and resentment.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, an individual must exhibit significant impairment in at minimum two situations. This could mean working in a way that is not satisfactory, experiencing excessive conflict and distress in a relationship, or getting into trouble with the law because of reckless spending or driving. The underlying causes of the impairment need to be investigated, as well, like medical ailments, alcohol and drug usage, or other mental health issues.
In an ADHD assessment an expert in mental health or health care professional will talk to the spouse or patient to inquire about past issues, and conduct psychiatric evaluations. They may also take part in behavior rating scales, or symptom checklists and take psychological tests that examine the brain's cognitive processes like memory and decision-making. They can also review the person's medical, educational and family history in order to rule out other possible causes for symptoms.
In the process of evaluating it is crucial to be as honest as you can. The therapist will evaluate whether or not the patient is taking steps to manage symptoms, such keeping a regular sleeping schedule or avoiding foods which could cause symptoms to worsen.