Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
For adults who are struggling with their personal or professional lives and are unable to resolve the issue, identifying ADHD can be a significant step towards taking control. A thorough examination is necessary to make a diagnosis. This involves examining school records as well as questionnaires filled out by teachers and caregivers.
The majority of people with ADHD live with symptoms from the age of five, and it’s not unusual to be diagnosed with it as an adult. Check out NIMH for tips on talking to your doctor regarding the disorder.
Diagnosis
Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is usually the first step to gain control over the symptoms that cause destruction on people’s professional and personal lives. The first step is to talk with your GP or seek out a mental health professional who has expertise in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP isn’t familiar with ADHD, he or she may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for assessment.
Typically, a mental health professional will use an eight-question ADHD screener to determine whether you may be suffering from the disorder, says Adler. The doctor will ask you questions about your ADHD-like symptoms and review your medical history and family history to determine if other conditions aren’t causing them.
Because people with ADHD have a tendency to overlook details and become easily distracted, they often have trouble following instructions or listening to lectures or at work. They often lose important items needed for their tasks like keys, wallets, and tools. They may also have trouble staying focused when they are reading long speeches or assignments. Fidgeting, excessive talking or texting, or squirming, are other symptoms of adult ADHD.
When determining whether a person has adult ADHD, it is important to exclude other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like anxiety, depression bipolar disorder, depression and addiction to drugs. Stress and physical conditions like thyroid problems can also cause ADHD symptoms. The DSM-5 is now requiring professionals to determine the severity of the symptoms a person’s experiences are when determining if they have diagnosed him or her with the disorder. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Many people with ADHD have a lifelong struggle without ever being diagnosed because it is not apparent in childhood. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing experience because they can finally understand the reason why they struggled in school and failed to reach their potential at work or at home. Some may even feel guilt-ridden for blaming their troubles on themselves or others and can feel sadness over the missed opportunities that could have been achieved when they were properly treated.
Treatment
To seek treatment for ADHD for adults, the first step is to consult an expert in the field of healthcare. This can be accomplished in person or via video conference. In the UK only psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The professional will require information about your medical history and family mental health issues. This is because there are a variety of mental and physical ailments that can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. These conditions must be eliminated in order to determine if you have ADHD.
The expert will also inquire about your work and lifestyle and how to diagnose adults with adhd your symptoms impact your daily life. They will be particularly interested in whether you displayed signs of ADHD before the age of 12. They might also interview those who knew you in your childhood and ask them about their experiences.
A thorough medical history will help your doctor decide whether you require medication or another treatment. Some medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, sleep apnea and lead poisoning can trigger ADHD symptoms. Adults with an history of anxiety or depression might require more careful evaluation and treatment, because these conditions are often associated with ADHD.
If the professional believes you need medication, they will prescribe a suitable medication. The kind of medication you require is determined by the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your life. Stimulants are among the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. They are not for everyone, and the first drug you try may not work or cause undesirable negative side consequences. Your doctor will want to know if you are taking any other medications such as over-the-counter medications and supplements, because certain kinds of drugs may interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial component of the treatment process for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal better with feelings of anger and failure that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can teach you how to get diagnosed with adhd in adulthood to control your anger, improve your time management and organizing skills.
If you suffer from a mental illness, it’s important to find an expert in healthcare who is trained in the field. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to consult psychologists or specialist therapists. These experts are likely to be more knowledgeable about the difficulties of treating adults with ADHD and have experience helping other clients with similar struggles. You can contact 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 struggled with ADHD and is diagnosed, it’s the first step toward managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you’ve been unable to realize your maximum potential at work, are finding it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to finish tasks at home, a diagnosis of adhd adults diagnosis may provide the solution you’ve been searching for.
The first step to treat ADHD in adults is an extensive medical history review, including your symptoms. The psychiatrist or psychologist will then determine if 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 with untreated ADHD often suffer from co-occurring disorders, including depression and anxiety. Jaksa says that these disorders can worsen or cause symptoms of ADHD. Chronic stress and frustration over inadequate performance can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, he adds. “Getting a diagnosis can help these individuals get a better understanding of the root causes of their difficulties which can help alleviate or reduce some of their worries and help them concentrate more effectively on areas in which they excel,” Jaksa says.
The best treatment for adults with ADHD is typically an amalgamation of medication and behavior therapy. Stimulants increase concentration, decrease impulse-driven behavior and aid in organizing. In many cases these drugs can enhance motivation and mood. People who take stimulants should be aware of the potential negative effects, which could include problems with sleeping and drinking or eating enough. Also, mood swings can occur in people who are taking stimulants to treat ADHD, and these can be difficult to manage.
Discuss with your health care provider about whether you’re a good candidate for clinical trials of upcoming treatments or drugs. These studies help researchers discover more effective methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause problems in all areas of your life. Your relationships, career and financial health could be negatively affected by procrastination or poor time management, impulsive spending and other signs. Finding a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step to reducing these negative impacts and regaining control of your life.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD did not receive a diagnosis as children because their parents and teachers were unaware of the condition or they had minor symptoms that were not noticed. Others might have managed their symptoms during childhood, but struggled in adulthood when their work and family responsibilities increased.
To be diagnosed as having ADHD mental health professionals must find that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in at least two areas of your life. The effects of ADHD can include losing your job due to a decline in organization and focus, or being placed on academic probation at college because you are unable to do well on tests.
Women are better at hiding symptoms than men. This can make it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. If you have ADHD symptoms that affect your life at work or at home, you can speed up the diagnosis process by being open with your doctor. You might also be eligible for reasonable accommodations under ADA laws as well as other workplace laws.
Your mental health professional, regardless of the type of ADHD you suffer from, will be looking to determine the time when your symptoms began. the age of 12. They might ask you to talk with people who knew you during this time and may also perform a series of tests to assess your attention and memory abilities.
After you are given an diagnosis, your therapist will recommend a combination of medications and non-medication treatments to manage your symptoms. A majority of patients will try a variety of different therapies before they can find the one that works for them. Keep a log of your progress, and make sure to consult your doctor frequently to modify your treatment plan as needed.