ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
Adults often struggle to receive an ADHD diagnosis due to the fact that doctors use different clinical guidelines than they do for children and teenagers. The diagnosis requires at least five signs that fall within the categories of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.
Professionals doing an evaluation will ask you questions about your childhood, academic and work life, drug and alcohol usage, and the family history. They might also want to speak with your spouse or a friend.
What is ADHD?
If you're constantly losing your keys, struggle with school or work or are having trouble staying focused during conversations, obtaining an ADHD diagnosis as an adult can be a massive relief. You're not crazy, and you can manage it better, says Mary V. Solanto Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine in Long Island, New York.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5) provides the guidelines that doctors and specialists use to determine an ADHD diagnosis. Adults need to meet a lower threshold of symptoms than children -- 5 out of 9 over the past 6 months -- to be diagnosed with either inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or a combination.
getting a adhd diagnosis -toface meeting with your healthcare professional is usually the first step in an ADHD assessment. They will discuss your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. It's helpful to bring report cards or other documents from your childhood to help the provider get an understanding of your past experiences with ADHD. Your provider may ask to speak to a close friend, spouse, family member, or a coworker who knows you well. They might inquire about your relationship, how they perceive your behavior, and how it affects you. They could also inquire how ADHD symptoms are interacted with other conditions, like depression or an anxiety disorder.
The interview may include questions about your life like how often you forget to pay bills or make appointments, or if you struggle managing your time or organizational skills. It is important to be truthful in your answers and consider the impact these behaviors have on your daily life. Ask your healthcare professional for a referral to another doctor or therapist if you aren't sure about your symptoms. Self-tests are available as well as rating scales online, but they're not as reliable or as valid as an appointment with a licensed professional. Certain tests could result in a wrong diagnosis, so you should always consult with your doctor prior to using them.
Symptoms
Speak to your primary healthcare provider if you suspect that you have ADHD. They can refer you to an expert in mental health, such as psychiatrist or psychologist, to conduct an evaluation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5 provides clinical guidelines for diagnosing mental disorders. It is essential to provide your physician as much information as you can about your symptoms so that they can make an accurate diagnosis.
The person doing the evaluation will examine your mental, psychological and medical history, including past problems and ask you about how your symptoms impact your life. They could also interview your spouse and children as well as teachers, coworkers, and other people who know you. Your assessment could include neuropsychological, behavioral or testing for learning disabilities. These tests may provide your physician with additional information about your ADHD symptoms and help determine if other conditions are causing similar symptoms.
In addition to evaluating your current symptoms, the professional will determine whether you have predominantly inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined type ADHD. To receive a diagnosis, you must show that you have at least six of the nine symptoms for either the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive presentation.
The signs of a person who is mostly inattention are a lack of attention and omitting important details or making mistakes. The person doing the evaluation will also assess how these symptoms impact work, school and social life. The impulsive/hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD include fidgeting, difficulty sitting still or squirming in the chair, excessive talking and interrupting others, frequent blurting out answers before questions are finished and difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
These symptoms usually manifest in childhood. However, they can also be present in adulthood. Adults may recognize their own ADHD symptoms when their children are diagnosed, or after an event in their lives such as the marriage, job or moving into a new home. In some cases, the condition is not diagnosed until an adult has significant issues at work or in their relationships. This can include being fired from a job and having financial problems, or getting into trouble with the law.
Diagnosis
A screening is the first thing to do in the event that you suspect you might are suffering from ADHD. A qualified mental health professional will interview you and review your symptoms, medical history, and family history. The interview might also include questions about work and school performance as well as how the symptoms affect your daily life at home and in your relationships. You may want to bring copies of your reports, teacher's comments, and any other documentation relevant.
The psychiatric practitioner employs the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to establish the diagnosis. adhd diagnosed of ADHD must be present in at least six months, and they must interfere with development or functioning in more than one environment, such as school or home. The symptoms of ADHD must not be explained by any other mental disorder, such as anxiety or mood disorders.
Many people with ADHD continue to have problems throughout their lives. The symptoms of ADHD can impact work and school. They can also cause financial or health issues and can cause stress in relationships. If you are diagnosed and treated, you can enjoy your life.
Some symptoms of ADHD alter with age, for instance attention deficit symptoms can become more evident as you get older and impulsivity and hyperactivity may decrease as you age. Other factors may cause problems such as obstructive sleep apnea is more common in adults suffering from ADHD and poor sleeping habits are known to exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from co-occurring illnesses such as anxiety disorders bipolar disorder, and learning disabilities. Sometimes, treating the underlying disorder can eliminate ADHD symptoms. It is important to inform your mental health professional that you suffer from any other condition. This could have an impact on the effectiveness of treatment.
It is crucial to talk to your primary doctor who can refer to an experienced health professional who is trained in ADHD assessments for adults. Find out if there are support groups for adults with ADHD in your area. They can offer information and a list of professionals by specialty. You can also contact your insurance company to find out about health care providers that are covered by your plan.
Treatment
A thorough assessment by a healthcare professional is the best method to determine the severity of adult ADHD. The evaluation should include questions about your childhood, as well as questions about your current life, and a screening for ADHD symptoms. You may be asked if your ADHD symptoms have caused problems at work, in school or in your relationships.
There are a variety of treatments available for adults with ADHD, including counseling and medications. Counseling can include psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, and cognitive therapy for behavior. These types of therapy help you learn skills to manage your symptoms and change negative thinking patterns to positive ones. They can also be helpful in addressing other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, which frequently co-exist with ADHD.
Medication for adults with ADHD often involves psychostimulants, like the methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). These drugs affect the way certain brain chemicals communicate to regulate behavior. Your doctor will recommend a medication that fits your body and the symptoms and adjusts the dosage and frequency as needed. Nonstimulants can also be used to treat adults suffering from ADHD. They don't interfere with the same brain pathways that psychostimulants do. Examples of nonstimulant medicines are atomoxetine as well as guanfacine.
Coaching or mentoring can be used to teach adults suffering from ADHD strategies and coping techniques. You may be taught how to use a diary or a planner, or you may be taught techniques for managing your time. You could also benefit from changing your lifestyle to accommodate your ADHD symptoms, like working at home instead of working in a place of work, using smartphone apps to track tasks or scheduling appointments at times that aren't as busy. You might also want to inquire about joining clinical trials that is a research investigation designed to test the effectiveness of new methods to treat ailments and diseases. (NIMH has information on clinical trials.)
You could be referred to the mental specialist or other health care professional by your family doctor to assess your ADHD. You could also ask your family member or a friend for suggestions, or connect with a local support organization for people with ADHD.