Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult

Adults who have difficulty in their personal or professional lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A thorough evaluation is needed to determine if you have a diagnosis. This involves examining school records as well as questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.

It is not uncommon for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. NIMH provides guidelines on how to talk with your doctor about the disorder.

Diagnosis

Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is usually the first step in gaining control over the symptoms that can cause havoc on one's personal and professional lives. The first step is to talk with your GP or seek out a mental health professional with expertise in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your doctor is not familiar with ADHD, he or she may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for an assessment.

A mental health professional will usually employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you are suffering from the condition. Then, he will ask you questions about your symptoms, and examine your family history and medical history to make sure that there are no other conditions not causing the symptoms of ADHD.

Because people who suffer from ADHD tend to miss details and get easily distracted, they frequently have trouble following instructions or listening in class or at work. They often lose things that are essential for their work or activities, such as keys, wallets and tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused when listening to long speeches. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, talking or texting frequently or squirming around in the seat.

It is crucial to rule other conditions out in determining if a person has adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Stress and other physical ailments such as thyroid issues can be a source of symptoms similar to ADHD. In the DSM-5 professionals are required to take into consideration the severity of an individual's symptoms when diagnosing them as having ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.

Many people who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed in childhood, because it's not evident. A diagnosis can change the course of a person's life because they now understand the reasons why they struggled in school and never reached their full potential at work or home. They may feel guilty for blaming their problems on others or themselves and may experience grief over lost opportunities that could have been had when they were properly treated.

Treatment

The first step in getting treatment for ADHD as an adult is to visit the healthcare professional for an assessment. This can be conducted in person or by video calls. In the UK, only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will need to know your medical history as well as family mental health issues. This is due to the fact that there are many mental and physical conditions that can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. These conditions need to be eliminated in order to establish a diagnosis.

The expert will also inquire about your lifestyle and work, and how your symptoms impact your daily life. They are particularly interested in whether or not you showed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12. They may also want to interview people who knew you as a child and ask them about their experiences.

A detailed medical history can aid your doctor to determine if you need medication or another treatment. This is because certain medical conditions, such as thyroid problems, sleep apnea and lead poisoning can cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults who have a history of anxiety or depression require evaluation and treated more carefully, as these conditions often are in synergy.

If a professional believes that you need medication, he/she will prescribe the appropriate medication. The type of medicine you need will depend on your symptoms and how they affect your life. Stimulants, the most common medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. They are not for all people and the first treatment you try may not work or cause undesirable side consequences. Your healthcare provider will be interested in knowing if you use any other medication, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, because certain kinds of drugs may interact with ADHD stimulants.

Counseling is also an important element of the treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope with feelings of failure or underachievement that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can also help you learn to manage your anger and improve your time management and organization skills.

If you have mental illness, it's important to find a healthcare professional who specializes in this condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD. However it is recommended to consult a specialist psychotherapist. These professionals are likely to be more knowledgeable about the challenges of treating adults with ADHD and have worked with others who have similar issues. You can contact your local mental health services or with ADDitude's directory to find a specialist who works with adults with ADHD.

Medication

A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the first step in managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you are struggling to realize your full potential at work or have trouble maintaining relationships, or experience difficulties completing your tasks at home, an ADHD diagnosis could be just what you require.

ADHD treatment for adults starts with an extensive interview and a review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've experienced. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines whether you meet the criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) which is published by the American Psychiatric Association. 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 are frequently co-morbid with other disorders, like anxiety and depression. Jaksa says that these conditions can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD. He adds that chronic stress and frustration due to inadequate performance can trigger feelings of low-self-esteem. "Getting an assessment can help them get a better understanding of the root of their difficulties, which may reduce or alleviate some of their anxiety and help them concentrate more effectively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa says.

Adults suffering from ADHD are typically treated by a combination of medication and behavior therapy. Stimulants improve concentration, reduce impulse-driven behavior and aid in organizing. In many cases these drugs can enhance motivation and mood. People who are taking stimulants must be aware of potential adverse effects, such as problems with sleeping and eating or drinking enough. Also, mood swings can occur in people who are taking stimulants for ADHD and they can be difficult where to diagnose adhd manage.

Consult your physician about whether or not you're an eligible participant in clinical trials on new medications or treatments. These studies aid researchers in discovering better ways to diagnose and treat illnesses, as well as prevent them from occurring.

Counseling

Untreated ADHD can lead to issues in all areas of your life. The effects of procrastination, among others, can have a negative impact on your relationships as well as your career and financial health. Finding a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step in reduce the negative impact and regaining control of your life.

Many adults diagnosed with ADHD didn't receive a diagnosis as children because their parents and teachers were unaware of the condition or they had mild symptoms that weren't noticed. Some may have been able to manage their symptoms during childhood, but struggled later in life when their work and family obligations increased.

To diagnose ADHD, mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms result in significant impairments in two areas of your daily life. Impaired can be losing your job due to a decline in focus and organization skills or being placed on academic probation at college because you are unable to concentrate on your tests.

Women are better in hiding their symptoms than men. This can make it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. If, however, you are struggling with ADHD symptoms that affect your work and home life speaking up with your doctor can accelerate the process and allow you to benefit from reasonable accommodations under the ADA and other workplace laws.

No matter what type of ADHD you have, your mental health professional will determine if your symptoms started before age 12. They might ask you to talk with people who knew you during this period and could take a number of tests to evaluate your attention and memory abilities.

When you receive an diagnosis your therapist will recommend a combination of medications and non-medication treatments to manage your symptoms. The majority of people will test different methods before they discover the one that works best for them. Keep a journal of your progress and make sure to consult your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan as needed.