Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A diagnosis is based on a thorough examination that may include reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by teachers and caregivers.
Most people with ADHD have symptoms from childhood, and it is not unusual to be diagnosed with it as an adult. NIMH has tips 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 a person's personal and professional lives. First, you must consult your GP or a mental health professional who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP isn't familiar with ADHD or other disorders, they could refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for assessment.
A mental health professional will typically employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. He or she will then interview you about the symptoms of ADHD and look over your medical history and family history to confirm that other conditions aren't contributing to them.
People suffering from ADHD tend to be easily distracted and forgetting crucial details. They often have difficulty following instructions in class or at work. They frequently lose essential items for tasks or activities such as keys, wallets, and tools. They may also have trouble staying focused when reading or listening to long speeches. Fidgeting, excessive talk or texting or squirming are other signs of adult ADHD.
When determining whether a person has adult ADHD It is crucial to eliminate other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Stress and certain physical conditions such as thyroid issues can be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. The DSM-5 now requires doctors to determine how severe a person's symptoms are before identifying them with the condition. Mild moderate, severe, and mild are the classifications for adult ADHD.
Many people who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed in their childhood because it's not evident. A diagnosis can change the course of an adult's life because they now understand the reasons why they struggled in school and never reached their maximum potential at work or home. They might feel guilty about blaming others or themselves for their struggles and could be devastated by missed opportunities if they were properly treated.
Treatment
To seek treatment for ADHD for adults the first step is to talk with a healthcare professional. This can be conducted in person or by video chat. In the UK only psychologists, psychiatrists, and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The doctor will need to know your medical history as well as family-related mental health issues. This is because many physical and emotional conditions can trigger symptoms that are similar to those associated with ADHD and need to be addressed before an assessment can be made.
The expert will inquire about your job and lifestyle and how your symptoms impact your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you displayed signs of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years. They may also want to interview people who knew you in childhood and ask them about their experiences.
A thorough medical history will help the doctor decide whether you need medication or other treatments. Some medical conditions such as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders and lead poisoning can cause ADHD symptoms. Adults who have a history of anxiety or depression might require more careful assessment and treatment, as these conditions can be co-existing with ADHD.
If a medical professional believes that you need medication they will prescribe a suitable medicine. The kind of medication you need depends on your symptoms and the way they affect your life. Stimulants, which are the most popular medication prescribed for ADHD are stimulants. However, they are not suitable for everyone and the first one you try might not be effective or cause bothersome adverse effects. Your doctor will want to know if you take any other medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, since certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial part of the treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal better with feelings of frustration and failure that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can also help you learn how to manage your anger as well as improve your time management and organization abilities.
If you suffer from a mental illness, it's important to find an expert in healthcare who is trained in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD. However you might prefer to seek out a specialist therapist. These experts are likely to be more knowledgeable about the challenges of treating adults with ADHD and have worked with other patients who are struggling with similar issues. You can use search engines like ADDitude or visit your local mental health clinic to find a specialist who is working with adults who suffer from ADHD.
Medication
If you are an adult who has had to deal with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder getting a diagnosis is the first step toward managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you've been unable to reach your full potential at work, find it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to finish tasks at home A diagnosis of ADHD could be the solution you've been searching for.
ADHD treatment for adults starts with thorough interviews and a thorough review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've experienced. The psychiatrist or psychologist determines if you satisfy the requirements for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), 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. These disorders can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He adds that chronic stress and frustration due to inadequate performance can trigger feelings of low self-esteem. "Getting an evaluation will help them get a better understanding of the root causes of their difficulties, which may alleviate or reduce some of their worries and allow them to focus more productively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa says.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated by a combination of medication and behavior therapy. Stimulants can improve concentration, reduce impulsive behaviors and aid in organizing. These medications can improve moods and increase motivation in a variety of cases. Side effects of stimulants include insomnia and difficulties drinking or eating enough. Also, mood swings can occur in those who take stimulants for ADHD and are often difficult to manage.
Discuss with your health care provider regarding whether you would be an ideal candidate for clinical trials of novel treatments or drugs. These studies aid researchers in discovering better methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
If you are suffering from untreated ADHD the disorder can lead to a variety of problems throughout your life. Your relationships, career and financial health can be negatively affected by procrastination or poor time management, impulsive spending and other symptoms. The first step to reducing the negative effects and getting back in control is to get an assessment and seek treatment.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD weren't diagnosed as children, either because their family and teachers were not aware of the disorder, or because they had mild symptoms that weren't noticed. Some might have been able to manage their symptoms in childhood but struggled as they grew older as their family and work obligations increased.
To determine ADHD, mental health professionals need to find that your symptoms result in significant impairments in two areas of your daily life. In adult adhd diagnosis uk of an impairment, you could lose your job due to a deficit in focus and organization skills or being placed on academic probation at your college due to your inability to do well on tests.
Women are better at avoiding symptoms than men. This can make it harder for women to be diagnosed. If you're suffering from ADHD symptoms that affect your work or home life it is possible to accelerate the process of diagnosing by being open with your doctor. You might also be able to get reasonable accommodations under ADA laws as well as other workplace laws.
No matter what kind of ADHD you have the mental health professional will see that your symptoms started prior to age 12. They may suggest that you talk to people who were close to you at this time, and they might conduct a series of tests to test your memory and attention.
After you are given the diagnosis your therapist will recommend a combination of medication and non-medical treatments to treat your symptoms. A majority of patients will try a variety of different treatments before they find the one that works for them. It is suggested that you keep a journal of your progress and speak with your doctor regularly so they can assist in adjusting your treatment program as needed.