How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
For adults, diagnosing ADHD requires an expert in health care or mental health professional to conduct a thorough evaluation. This may include interviews of the patient, and close family members or colleagues.
In addition the person who is being evaluated could be asked to complete questionnaires and make written statements about childhood behaviors. A comprehensive evaluation will include screening for ADHD symptoms and the psychological tests that are a part of the battery.
Symptoms
Many people with ADHD are not diagnosed until they reach adulthood and the symptoms of the disorder are more noticeable in their daily lives. It is crucial to be aware of the signs so that you can speak with a medical professional about your concerns. The health professional may ask you about your child-like symptoms. This is because, as per current guidelines, a diagnosis can only be made if the symptoms began before age 12.
Do you often miss deadlines or appointments like that? Do you find it difficult to keep track of your financial documents or other responsibilities? Are you easily distracted and frequently make unwise decisions that can cause tension with your family, friends and co-workers? undiagnosed adhd in adults may be an indication of ADHD. This can make it hard to maintain a career and manage relationships. Fortunately, treatment can lessen the severity of these issues and help you reach your personal and professional goals.
Adults may experience symptoms similar to children, however, they may have different symptoms in the way they function at work and in social life. They can range from mild to severe, with moderate symptoms that cause noticeable disruptions in your functioning. In extreme cases, symptoms can lead to problems with relationships and finances, as well as difficulties in school or your career.
If you think you may have ADHD, the first step is to speak with your primary care provider for an appointment with an expert in mental health who can conduct an evaluation. You could also ask your health insurance company for a list of specialists who perform evaluations for ADHD or other conditions. A support group for ADHD is also an excellent source. Members might have suggestions for professionals in the area.
In addition to assessing your symptoms, the evaluator will review your medical and psychiatric history, prepare an agenda of questions you have asked, and have other individuals (such as parents, teachers spouses, close family members or friends) who know you well complete questionnaires and surveys. The evaluator could also choose to conduct a physical exam as well as psychological, neuropsychological or testing for learning disabilities should it be necessary.
Diagnosis
If ADHD symptoms affect daily life for an adult, they may require a visit to an primary physician or mental health provider. The evaluator will review the person's medical and psychiatric background, speak with the patient about their symptoms, utilize rating scales or checklists to evaluate ADHD-related symptoms and complete psychological tests to evaluate working memory and executive functions (abilities that involve the ability to plan and make decisions) and spatial and visual ability. Neuropsychological or psychological tests can also be used to determine if a co-existing condition is causing the person's symptoms.
During the examination the evaluator will ask the person to describe their symptoms and any issues they are experiencing at home, in school or at work. It is crucial that the person being assessed is honest and doesn't hold back information due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. In most cases, the person being evaluated will interview the person's significant others as well as close family and friends members. This is to get an overall understanding of the person's challenges and their impact on the individual's relationships.
The evaluator will be looking for symptoms in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5) to diagnose ADHD. These include trouble paying attention to the details or making erroneous mistakes or focusing issues with tasks or activities, and issues with following directions and completing schoolwork, chores and job tasks. The evaluator will also ask about the person's family history and childhood of ADHD.
If the evaluation finds that the person is suffering from ADHD, they will refer them to a specialist who will provide treatment options. Because adults may have poor or blurry memories of their childhood experiences and psychiatric evaluations, the individual who is being evaluated may have to have their parents or significant others fill out retrospective ADHD profiles. This will allow the evaluator to verify childhood ADHD symptoms and to diagnose ADHD as a present disorder. Some people who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression and substance misuse. These other conditions must be addressed to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD.
Treatment
Get help if you're having difficulty completing tasks at work or home, or if you experience inattention or impulsive behavior. You can seek assistance from an expert in mental health with special training to work with adults with ADHD or your primary medical doctor. You can ask your family and friends members for recommendations, or you can search for professionals on the internet in the area. Review the reviews of professionals prior to you visit them, and ensure that your insurance covers the costs.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have symptoms that are more than once a week and cause significant impairment in several areas of your life. It can lead to losing your job or having financial problems due to excessive spending or failing classes at school or marital issues, or difficulties with relationships with family and friends. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition, has the American Psychiatric Association’s guidelines for ADHD. The DSM-5 criteria for determining adult ADHD includes a description of your symptoms, the completion of questionnaires and scales by you, your caregivers and teachers, and a complete medical and mental health history.
There are different types of treatment available for adults with ADHD that include psychotherapy as well as medication. Behavioral therapy can help you learn to track and alter your behavior. It also teaches you ways to improve your problem-solving and organization skills. Psychotherapy can help you learn to understand the connection between your ADHD and identify the negative patterns of thinking that contribute to the disorder.
Psychotherapy can be beneficial for dealing with anxiety, depression or abuse of substances and can help you manage your ADHD. Marriage counseling and family therapy can be beneficial, particularly for spouses who suffer from ADHD and are facing the same issues as you do.
Adults with ADHD should be treated with combining treatments. The first step is to speak with your GP who will refer you to the right service for you. Your GP can tell you if an assessment for ADHD is the right thing to do.
Support
People suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from support groups where they can share their experiences and learn from each other. These groups not only provide emotional support but also instruct individuals on ADHD treatments, and coping strategies. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from seek out professional assistance in managing their symptoms. Certain professionals provide services for adults with ADHD and others offer more general therapy sessions.
Talk therapy is one method to manage the symptoms of ADHD. Therapists can assist people in improving their self-esteem, and help them to develop strategies to manage stress and anger. Some therapists specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is a technique which focuses on changing the way an individual thinks and behaves.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently face difficulties that weren't present when they were children, such as financial difficulties, relationship conflicts and academic difficulties. Individual talk therapy helps people overcome negative emotions like shame and embarrassment.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, an individual must demonstrate significant impairment in at minimum two situations. This can include working in a way that is not satisfactory, experiencing extreme stress and conflict in a marriage or getting in trouble with the law because of reckless spending or driving. The underlying causes behind the impairment should be determined in addition to other factors like medical conditions, drug and alcohol use, or other mental health issues.
In an ADHD assessment the health care provider or mental health professional will talk to the patient, spouse, or other close friends and family, ask questions about past issues and conduct psychiatric tests. They might also complete behavior rating scales or symptom checklists and take tests of the psychological aspects of the person's cognitive processes, such as memory and decision-making. They might also examine the person's educational, medical, and family history in order to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.
During the process of evaluation it is crucial to be as transparent as possible. The therapist can determine if the individual is taking steps to manage their symptoms, such as having a regular sleeping schedule or removing foods that might worsen them.