ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
Adults often struggle to receive an ADHD diagnosis due to the fact that doctors use different guidelines for treating adults than they do for teenagers and children. The diagnosis requires at minimum five signs that fall within the categories of hyperactivity, inattention and the tendency to be impulsive.
The professionals conducting the evaluation will ask questions about your education, childhood work, family, and history. They might also discuss your relationship with your spouse or family members.
What is ADHD?
If you're constantly losing your keys, struggle with work or school or struggle to stay focused in conversations, getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult can be a great relief. "You know you're not insane, and that puts you in better position to handle it," says pediatrician Mary V. Solanto, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine on 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.
A face-to-face meeting with your doctor is usually the first step in an ADHD evaluation. They will discuss your symptoms and how they impact your life. adhd diagnosed to bring report cards or other information from your childhood, as it can aid in getting more information about your experience with ADHD. Your doctor might ask you to talk to a partner, spouse, family member or co-worker who knows you well. They may ask questions about your relationship, their observations of your behavior and how it affects them and also how your ADHD symptoms interact with other conditions such as depression or anxiety.
The interview may include questions about your lifestyle such as how often you forget to pay bills or make appointments, or if you have trouble with time management or organization skills. It's essential to be honest in your answers and consider how these habits impact your daily life. Request your healthcare professional for a referral to a different practitioner or therapist if are unsure about the symptoms. Self-tests and rating systems are available on the internet, however they're not as reliable as an interview conducted by a trained professional. Some of these tests can even result in the wrong diagnosis, so it's advisable to talk to your doctor first.
Symptoms
If you suspect you have ADHD, start by talking to your primary care provider. They may refer you to a mental health specialist for an assessment, such as psychologist or psychiatrist. The American Psychiatric Association provides clinical guidelines for diagnosing disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). It's important to provide as much information about your symptoms as you can so that your physician can make an accurate assessment.
The person who is evaluating you will ask about your symptoms and how they affect your life. The person conducting the evaluation could also interview your spouse and children, as well as coworkers, teachers, and other people who know you. Your assessment could include neuropsychological, behavioral, or learning disability testing. These tests may provide your physician with additional details about your ADHD symptoms and can help rule out other conditions 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 symptoms of the primarily inattentional type include difficulty paying attention, not noticing details or making careless mistakes. The person who is evaluating the child will also determine how these symptoms affect school, work and even personal 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 be able to recognize their own ADHD symptoms after their children are diagnosed or after an event in their lives like the marriage, job or moving into their own home. In some cases the condition isn't recognized until a person has significant issues at work or in their relationships. This could include being fired from a job, having financial problems or being in trouble with the law.
Diagnosis
A screening is the first step to do when you suspect that you may are suffering from ADHD. A qualified mental health professional will meet with you and review your symptoms as well as your medical history and family history. The interview may also include questions about your work and school performance, as well as how your symptoms impact your daily life at home and in your relationships. You might want to bring copies of your report cards, teacher comments as well as any other documentation relevant.
The psychiatric professional will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to help determine the diagnosis. The symptoms of ADHD must be present in at least six months and they must interfere with functioning or developmental progress in more than one environment, such as school or at home. The symptoms of ADHD should not be explained by other mental disorder like mood disorders or anxiety.
Many people with ADHD continue to struggle throughout their lives. The symptoms of ADHD can be detrimental to both school and work. They can also cause poor health or financial problems and can cause stress in relationships. If diagnosed and treated, you can improve your quality of life.
Certain ADHD symptoms can change with age. For instance, inattention is more evident as you get older, and hyperactivity and impulse control may decrease as you get older. Some other factors can contribute to difficulties such as obstructive sleep apnea is more common in adults with ADHD and sleep disorders are known to exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
People with ADHD often have co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety bipolar disorder, and other learning disabilities. Sometimes, treating the underlying condition can eliminate the symptoms of ADHD. It is crucial to inform your mental health professional if you have any other conditions. This could affect the effectiveness of treatment.
It is important that you consult your primary physician who can refer you to an expert in ADHD assessments for adults. Find out if there are support groups for adults suffering from ADHD in your locality. They can provide you with resources and a list of specialties of specialists. You can also reach out to your insurance company to learn about health care providers that are covered by your plan.
Treatment
A thorough evaluation by a health professional is the best method to determine if you suffer from adult ADHD. The assessment should include questions about your childhood, questions about your current life, and screening for ADHD symptoms. You may also be asked about any issues that your ADHD symptoms cause problems at school, work or in your relationships.
Counseling and medication are two of the many options available for adults with ADHD. Psychotherapy is a form of counseling that can include also called talk therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. These treatments teach you how to manage your symptoms and how to change negative thinking patterns to positive ones. They can also assist in the treatment of other mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which frequently co-exist with ADHD.
Psychostimulants like dextroamphetamine or the methylphenidate are frequently utilized in the treatment of adults with ADHD. These medications alter the way certain chemicals within your brain communicate and regulate behavior. Your doctor will select the right medication for you and your specific symptoms, and adjust the dosage and frequency accordingly. Nonstimulants are also available which do not act on the same brain pathways that psychostimulants do, and they can be beneficial for people with ADHD. Examples of nonstimulant drugs are atomoxetine and guanfacine.
Coaching or mentoring can be used to teach adults suffering from ADHD strategies and coping strategies. You may learn to make use of a diary or planner, or be shown strategies for managing time. You could also alter your living environment to accommodate your ADHD symptoms. For instance you could choose to work from home instead of at an office, use smartphone apps to monitor your activities and schedule appointments at less busy times. You may also want to inquire about taking part in clinical trials which is a study trial designed to test new methods of treating illnesses and conditions. (NIMH has information about clinical trials.)
Sometimes, your family physician will recommend you to a mental health specialist or another health medical professional to conduct an evaluation of your ADHD. You could also ask your family member or friend for recommendations, or connect with a local support organization for people with ADHD.