How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
Adults need to undergo a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional or health care provider to establish the diagnosis of ADHD. This may include interviews with the patient and close friends or co-workers.
The person being evaluated may be asked to fill out questionnaires or write up their thoughts regarding their childhood behavior. A comprehensive evaluation will include a screening for ADHD symptoms, as well as an array of psychological tests.
Symptoms
Many people with ADHD are not diagnosed until the age of adulthood at which point the signs of the disorder become more evident in their daily lives. It is essential to recognize the symptoms so that you can talk with a medical professional about your concerns. The examiner will inquire about your experiences with symptoms, particularly as a child, because current guidelines state that a diagnosis cannot be made without evidence that the symptoms occurred before the age of 12.
Do you often forget appointments or deadlines for instance? Do you find it difficult to keep track of financial documents or other responsibilities? Are you impulsive and often make unwise decisions that can cause tension with your family, friends, and coworkers? These behaviors could be an indication of ADHD. This can make it hard to maintain a career and manage relationships. Treatment can help reduce these symptoms and help you to achieve your professional and personal goals.
Adults can experience symptoms similar to children but may differ slightly in the way they perform at work and in social life. The symptoms can be mild to severe. In the case of moderate symptoms, they can result in noticeable disruptions to your functioning. In severe instances, these symptoms could result in financial and relationship issues, as well as difficulties at work or at school.
If you suspect that you have ADHD The first step is to talk with your primary care provider for an appointment with an expert in mental health who can conduct an evaluation. You can also request an information from your health insurance company of professionals who evaluate ADHD or other conditions. Another good resource is an ADHD support group. Members can give recommendations for specialists in your area.
The evaluator might also inquire about your symptoms. They will also review your medical history and psychiatric conditions. They will complete the questionnaire and survey along with you and may have other people (such as your teachers, parents spouses, parents, or close friends) complete it. The evaluator could also choose to do a physical exam, as well as psychological, neuropsychological or testing for learning disabilities in the event that it is needed.
Diagnosis
If a person is experiencing ADHD symptoms and they interfere with daily functioning they may be able to benefit from an assessment by a mental health provider or primary care physician. The evaluator will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, talk to the patient about their symptoms, utilize rating scales or checklists to assess symptoms related to ADHD and conduct psychological tests to measure working memory, executive functions (abilities that involve the ability to plan and make decisions) and spatial and visual ability. Psychological or neuropsychological tests may be used to determine whether a coexisting condition is the cause of the person's symptoms.
During the examination during the assessment, the evaluator requests the person to explain their symptoms and any issues they're having at home, at school or at work. It is important that the person being evaluated is honest and not holds the information from fear of shame or embarrassment. In most cases, the person being evaluated will interview the person's significant other, close friends and family members. This can help gain an understanding of the issues the individual is facing and how they affect their relationships.
The evaluator will be looking for symptoms from 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 careless mistakes and difficulty focusing on tasks or activities, and issues with following instructions and finishing schoolwork, chores and job tasks. The evaluator may also inquire about the person's family history and childhood of ADHD.
If the evaluator concludes that the person is in the right category for ADHD, he or she will refer the person to an expert to discuss treatment options. Adults may have a weak or hazy memory of childhood experiences or psychiatric evaluations. The individual being evaluated will be required to solicit the help of their parents, or others, to fill out the retrospective ADHD profile. This will enable the evaluator confirm the child's ADHD symptoms and to diagnose ADHD as a disorder that is currently present. Certain people with ADHD might also be suffering from co-occurring disorders such as addiction to substances, depression and anxiety. These additional issues should be addressed to ease the symptoms of ADHD.
Treatment
If you have trouble staying on task at work or home or you experience a lack of focus and unpredictable behavior, it might be time to seek out help. Find a mental health professional who has special training in working with adults suffering from ADHD or a primary medical doctor. Ask your family and friends for suggestions or look for professionals in your area via the internet. Before visiting a professional review their reviews and ensure that your insurance policy covers the cost.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have symptoms that occur more often than once per week and result in significant impairment in several areas of your life. Impairment includes problems such as losing your job or experiencing financial difficulties due to impulsive spending and failing school classes marital problems, issues with relationships with family members and friends. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, has the American Psychiatric Society's guidelines for ADHD. The DSM-5 criteria includes the description and evaluation of your symptoms by you, your caregivers as well as your teachers. It also includes an extensive medical history.
There are many forms of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD which include psychotherapy and medication. Behavioral therapy is one option that teaches you to monitor and modify your behavior. It also teaches you how to improve your problem-solving and organization skills. Psychotherapy can help you recognize the negative thinking patterns that lead to ADHD and the relationship you have to it.
Psychotherapy can be helpful in treating anxiety, depression, or substance misuse and also helps manage your ADHD. Family therapy and counseling for marriage are also beneficial particularly in the event that your spouse or children have ADHD and face the same challenges that you do.
Adults suffering from ADHD are best treated with combining treatments. The first step is to speak with your GP and ask them to direct you to the appropriate treatment for you. Your GP will be able to advise you whether or not an assessment for ADHD is the right step to take.
Support
Support groups can be beneficial for those suffering from ADHD. They can learn from other people and share their experiences. These groups provide not only emotional support but also educate people about ADHD, treatment options, and strategies for coping. It may be helpful for people with ADHD to seek out professional assistance in managing their symptoms. Some professionals provide services specifically targeted at adults suffering from ADHD while others might offer general therapy sessions.
Talk therapy is one way to treat the symptoms of ADHD. Therapists can work with people to improve their self-esteem, and assist them develop better ways of dealing with anger and stress. Some therapists are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing the way a person thinks.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often experience challenges that didn't exist when they were children, including relationships, financial issues and academic problems. Individual talk therapy can help people overcome these issues and help overcome negative feelings like shame, embarrassment, and resentment.
A person must show significant impairment in two or more settings to be diagnosed with ADHD. This can include being unable to work, having excessive conflict and distress in a relationship, or getting in trouble with the law because of impulsive spending or reckless driving. The root causes of the impairment should be determined as well, like medical ailments, alcohol and drug usage, or other mental health issues.
In an ADHD assessment, a mental health professional or health care professional will interview the spouse or patient and ask about any past issues and conduct psychiatric assessments. They can also take part in behavior ratings scales or lists of symptoms and conduct psychological tests that test the person's cognitive processes such as memory and decisions. They may also look into medical, educational, and family background to rule out other reasons for the symptoms.
During the evaluation process it is crucial to be as truthful as possible. The therapist will be able to determine if the individual is taking steps to manage their symptoms, like having a regular sleeping schedule or avoiding food items that can cause.