ADHD Diagnosed: It's Not As Difficult As You Think
How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
For adults, identifying ADHD requires an expert in health care or mental health professional to conduct a thorough evaluation. This may include interviews with the patient and close friends or coworkers.
In addition the person being assessed could be asked to complete questionnaires and provide written statements about childhood behaviors. A complete evaluation also includes screening for ADHD symptoms as well as a variety of psychological tests.
Signs and symptoms
Many people with ADHD are not diagnosed until adulthood, when symptoms of the disorder become apparent in their daily lives. It is crucial to be aware of the symptoms to consult a healthcare 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 established without proof that the symptoms existed prior to the age of 12.
For instance, do you often forget appointments or fail to meet deadlines? Are you struggling to keep the financial records or other responsibilities? Are you impulsive and frequently make rash decisions that could strain relationships with your family, friends and colleagues? These behaviors may be an indication of ADHD. This can make it difficult to maintain a career and manage relationships. Fortunately, treatment can lessen the severity of these symptoms and help you reach your goals in both professional and personal life.
Adults can experience symptoms that are similar to children, however, they may have different symptoms due to the way adults function at work and in social lives. They vary from mild to severe with moderate symptoms that can cause noticeable changes in your performance. In extreme instances, these symptoms could result in problems with relationships and finances, as well as difficulties at school or in your career.
If you think you have ADHD The first step is to talk with your primary care provider to get a referral to an expert in mental health who can conduct an assessment. You can also contact your health insurance provider for a list of professionals who conduct evaluations for ADHD or other conditions. A support group for ADHD is also a good resource. Members may have suggestions for professionals in this area.
In addition to asking you about your symptoms, the evaluator will review your medical and psychiatric history, prepare an agenda of questions with you and ask other people (such as teachers, parents spouses, close friends or spouses) who know you well fill out questionnaires and surveys. The evaluator will also conduct an examination of your body and may suggest psychological, neuropsychological, or learning disabilities tests if necessary.
Diagnosis
If ADHD symptoms affect daily life for an adult, they could benefit from a consultation with an primary medical doctor or a mental health professional. The examiner will review the patient's medical and psychiatric history, interview the patient about their symptoms, use checklists or scales to assess the symptoms of ADHD and take psychological tests to assess working memory and executive functions (abilities that involve the ability to plan and make decisions) and visual and spatial ability. Psychological or neuropsychological tests can be used to determine whether an existing condition is the cause of the person's symptoms.
During the examination, the evaluator asks the individual to describe their symptoms and any issues they are experiencing at home, in school or at work. It is essential 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 as well as close family and friends members. This is to get an accurate picture of the individual's struggles and their effect on their relationships.
The evaluator will be looking for signs in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5) to determine ADHD. This includes difficulty paying attention to the details or making erroneous mistakes and difficulty focusing on tasks or activities, and issues in following directions and completing chores, schoolwork or other duties. The evaluator may also ask about the person’s childhood and family background.
If the evaluator determines that the person meets the criteria for ADHD If he or she finds that the person is at risk for ADHD, they will refer the person to an expert to discuss treatment options. Since adults may have weak or hazy memories of their childhood experiences and mental health evaluations, the person who is being evaluated may have to have their parents or significant others fill out retrospective ADHD profiles. This will help the evaluator verify childhood ADHD symptoms and diagnose ADHD as a disorder that is present. Certain people suffering from ADHD are more likely to experience co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression and substance misuse. These other conditions should be addressed to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD.
Treatment
Seek help if you are struggling to complete tasks at home or work or if you suffer from an impulsive or forgetful behavior. You can seek assistance from an expert in mental health with special training for working with adults with ADHD or your primary care physician. You can ask your friends and family members for suggestions, or search online for professionals in the area. Read reviews of professionals before you go to them, and ensure that your insurance 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 a variety of areas of your life. The impairment can be seen in the form of losing your job or having financial issues due to impulsive spending or failing classes at school or marital issues, or difficulties with relationships with family and friends. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, has the American Psychiatric Association's guidelines for ADHD. The DSM-5 criteria include an explanation and assessment of your symptoms by you, your caregivers as well as your teachers. It also provides the complete medical history.
There are many forms of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD that include psychotherapy as well as medication. Behavioral therapy is a method that teaches you to monitor and alter your behavior. It can also aid in improving your problem-solving and organizational skills. Psychotherapy can help you learn to recognize the relationship between you and your ADHD and identify the negative patterns of thinking that contribute to the disorder.
Psychotherapy can be helpful in managing ADHD as well as addressing depression or anxiety. Marriage counseling and family therapy can be beneficial, particularly if you or your spouse have ADHD and face similar challenges as you.
Adults suffering from ADHD should be treated with using a combination of therapies. The first step is to speak with your GP and ask them to guide you to the best treatment for you. Your GP can advise you on whether an assessment for ADHD would be appropriate.
Support
Support groups can be beneficial to those suffering from ADHD. They can learn from each other and share their experiences. In addition to providing emotional support, these groups can also help educate people about ADHD treatments, treatment options and coping strategies. People with ADHD might also benefit from seek professional help in managing their symptoms. Certain professionals provide services specifically targeted at adults suffering from ADHD while others might offer general therapy sessions.
Talk therapy is a method to control the symptoms of ADHD. Therapists can help individuals to boost their self-esteem, and help them develop better ways of handling stress and anger. Some therapy professionals specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is a method that focuses on changing the way people think and behave.
Adults suffering from ADHD often experience problems that were not present when they were kids, such as relationship conflicts, financial problems and academic difficulties. Individual talk therapy can help people deal with these issues and work to overcome negative feelings like shame, embarrassment, and resentment.
To be diagnosed with ADHD the person must exhibit significant impairment in at least two settings. This could include being unable to work, having an excessive amount of conflict and stress in a marriage, or getting in trouble with the law because of reckless spending or driving. Iampsychiatry underlying causes behind the impairment should be determined in addition to other factors such as medical conditions, drug and alcohol use, or other mental health issues.
During an ADHD evaluation an health care professional or mental health professional will interview the patient, spouse or other close relatives and friends to ask questions about their past issues and conduct psychiatric tests. They may also fill out behavior ratings scales or symptom lists, and take psychological assessments that examine the person's cognitive processes like memory and decision-making. They may also look into medical, educational and family background to rule out other causes for the symptoms.
In the process of evaluating it is important to be as transparent as you can. The therapist will determine whether the patient is taking steps to manage symptoms, like having a regular sleep schedule or avoiding foods that may worsen symptoms.