Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who are struggling in their professional or personal lives may benefit from a diagnosis of ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment that may include reviews of school records and questionnaires completed by caregivers and teachers.
It is not unusual for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. NIMH offers tips on how to talk with your doctor about the condition.
Diagnosis
It is essential to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. This will help you get control of the symptoms that can cause havoc in your professional and personal life. First, you should consult your GP or a mental health specialist who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD and/or ADHD, they may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for assessment.
Typically the mental health professional will employ the six-question ADHD screener to determine if you may be suffering from the disorder, says Adler. Then, the doctor will interview you about your symptoms and look at your medical history and family history to confirm that there are no other conditions not causing your symptoms of ADHD.
Since people who suffer from ADHD are more likely to overlook details and become easily distracted, they frequently have difficulty following instructions or listening to lectures or at work. They frequently lose essential items required for tasks or activities such as wallets, keys and other tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused during long lectures or reading assignments. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, talking or texting excessively or squirming in the seat.
It is essential to rule out other medical conditions when determining if someone has adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical ailments such as thyroid issues can be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. The DSM-5 now requires professionals to assess how severe a person's symptoms are when diagnosing the disorder. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Many people with ADHD go their whole lives without ever receiving a diagnosis because it's not evident in the early years. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing revelation as they realize why they struggled in school and failed to attain their full potential at work or at home. They might even feel guilty for blaming their issues on themselves or others and may experience sadness over the missed opportunities that could have been achieved when they were properly treated.
Treatment
To get treatment for ADHD for adults, the first step is to talk with a healthcare professional. This can be done in person or through a video chat. Only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The professional will ask about your medical history, which includes mental health issues in the family. This is because there are many mental and physical ailments that can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. These conditions need to be ruled out to determine if you have ADHD.
The professional will ask you about your job and lifestyle, as well as how your symptoms affect your daily life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you showed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years old. They might also talk to people who were close to you as an infant and inquire about their childhood memories.
A thorough medical history will aid the doctor in determining if you require medications or other treatments. This is because certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, thyroid problems and lead poisoning may cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults who have a history of depression or anxiety will need to be assessed and treated more carefully, as these conditions often occur in conjunction.
If a medical professional believes you require medication, he/she will prescribe the right medication. The type of medication you require is determined by your symptoms and how they affect your life. Stimulants, which are the most popular medication prescribed for ADHD are stimulants. However, they're not for everyone and the first stimulant you try may not be effective or have bothersome adverse side effects. Your doctor will need to know if take any other medications that are not prescription drugs, such as over-the counter ones and supplements, because certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial aspect of treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope with the feelings of disappointment frustration, underachievement, and anger that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can also help you learn how to manage your anger and improve your organization and time management abilities.
It is crucial to find an expert in healthcare who specializes in mental disorders. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD however, you may prefer to consult psychologists or specialist therapists. These professionals will likely be more familiar with adults with ADHD and the challenges they face, as well as having experience working with other clients. You can inquire with your local mental health clinic or consult ADDitude's directory of professionals to find a specialist who works with adults with ADHD.
Medication
If you're an adult who has had to deal with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder getting a diagnosis is the first step toward managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life. If you are struggling to realize your full potential in the workplace or in maintaining relationships, or are having difficulties completing your tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis may be just what you require.
ADHD treatment for adults begins with a thorough interview and review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've experienced. The psychologist or psychiatrist will then determine if the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for ADHD are applicable 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 who suffer from untreated ADHD often have coexisting disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He also says that constant anxiety and frustration resulting from low performance can cause feelings of low-self-esteem. "Getting an evaluation can help them gain perspective on the root causes of their difficulties and may help to reduce or alleviate some of their anxiety and help them concentrate more effectively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa says.
The best treatment for adults suffering from ADHD is typically an amalgamation of behavior therapy and medication. The use of stimulants can help improve concentration, decrease impulsive behaviors and help with organization. These medications can improve moods and boost motivation in many cases. People who take stimulants should be aware of potential side effects, which include problems with sleeping and eating or drinking enough. Certain people who use stimulants to treat ADHD might have mood swings that could be difficult to manage.
Discuss with your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for clinical trials of upcoming treatments or drugs. These studies aid researchers in discovering more effective methods to detect and treat or prevent diseases.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause problems in all areas of your life. Your relationships, work and financial health could be negatively affected by procrastination and poor time management, impulsive spending and other signs. Getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step to reducing these negative impacts and regaining control over your life.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children due to the fact that their families and teachers were unaware of the condition or they showed mild symptoms that weren't noticed. Some may have managed their symptoms during childhood, but struggled in adulthood as their family and work responsibilities increased.
In order to be diagnosed as having ADHD, mental health professionals must find that your symptoms are causing severe impairment in at minimum two areas of your life. The effects of ADHD can include losing your job due to a decline in focus and organization skills or being placed on academic probation in college due to your inability to study for tests.
Women are generally better in hiding their symptoms than men, which could make it harder to receive an accurate diagnosis. If you're suffering from ADHD symptoms that affect your life at work or at home it is possible to speed up the diagnosis process by being upfront with your doctor. You might also be eligible for reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.
Your mental health professional regardless of the kind of ADHD you have will be interested in knowing if your symptoms began before the age of 12. They might ask you to talk to people who knew you during this period and could perform a series of tests to assess your memory and attention levels.
After receiving getting a adhd diagnosis , your specialist will recommend a combination medication and non-medication treatment to manage your symptoms. The majority of people will test various treatments before settling on the most effective one. Keep a log of your progress and visit your physician regularly to alter your treatment plan if needed.