ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
Adults often have trouble getting an ADHD diagnosis because doctors use different guidelines for clinical diagnosis than they do for children and teenagers. The diagnosis requires at minimum five symptoms from the categories of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.
Professionals conducting an assessment will ask questions about your education, childhood as well as your work and family history. They may also ask to speak to your spouse or a friend.
What is ADHD?
It's not always a good thing to get an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood and if you're constantly losing keys, have difficulty at school or work, or are having trouble staying focused in conversations. You're not crazy and are able to manage it better, says Mary V. Solanto Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine in Long Island, New York.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5), provides guidelines for providers to diagnose ADHD. 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.
An ADHD evaluation typically starts with a face-to-face meeting with your doctor, who will review your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. Bring any report cards from your childhood to help the doctor determine the cause of your 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 as well as their observations of your behavior and how it affects them as well as how your ADHD symptoms interact with other conditions like depression or anxiety.
The interview will likely include questions about your lifestyle, such as how often you don't remember to pay your bills or go to appointments, or if you struggle managing your time or organization skills. It is crucial to be truthful in your answers and consider the impact these behaviors have on your daily life. If you're not sure about your symptoms, consider consulting your healthcare professional to refer you to another psychologist or doctor for an evaluation. You can find self-tests and rating scales on the internet, but they're not as reliable or valid as an interview with a qualified provider. Certain tests could even lead to a wrong diagnosis, so always consult with your doctor before using them.
Signs and symptoms
Talk to your primary healthcare provider if you suspect you may have ADHD. He or she may recommend you to a mental healthcare professional for evaluation, such as psychologist or psychiatrist. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5 provides guidelines for clinicians to diagnose mental disorders. It is important to provide as much detail about your symptoms as you can to enable your doctor to make an accurate assessment.
The person conducting the assessment will examine your medical, psychological, and psychiatric history, including any past issues and ask how your symptoms impact your life. The person conducting the evaluation will also talk to your spouse, children teachers, colleagues, and other people who know you well. Your test may include behavioral, neuropsychological or learning disability tests. These tests can give your doctor additional information on how your ADHD symptoms affect you, and also help determine if there are other conditions that cause 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 an inattention type include difficulty paying attention, ignoring details or making careless mistakes. The person who evaluates the child will also determine the impact these symptoms have on 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 often appear in the early years of childhood. However, they can also be present in later life. Adults may recognize their own ADHD symptoms after their children are diagnosed, or after changes in their lives like a job, marriage or moving into their own home. In other cases, the condition goes undiagnosed until the adult experiences significant issues at work or with their relationships. This could mean being fired, facing financial difficulties or getting in trouble with the law.
Diagnosis
A screening is the first thing you should take if you suspect you have ADHD. A qualified mental health professional will interview you and examine your symptoms as well as your medical history and family history. Interview questions may also be asked about your school and work performance, and how symptoms affect you at home and with relationships. You may want to bring copies of your report cards, teacher's remarks and any other documents pertinent.
The psychiatric practitioner will employ the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to help make the diagnosis. The symptoms of ADHD must be present in at least six months and they should affect the development of a child or their functioning in multiple environments like school or at home. The symptoms of ADHD must not be attributed to any other mental disorder, such as mood disorders or anxiety.
Many people with ADHD have issues that persist into adulthood. The symptoms of ADHD can impact the way you work and at school. They can also cause poor health or financial problems and stress relationships. If you are diagnosed and treated, you can make a difference in your life.
Some signs of ADHD develop as you age, for instance attention deficit symptoms can become more noticeable as you get older and impulsivity and hyperactivity could lessen as you age. Other factors can also cause problems. For example, obstructive sleeping apnea is more prevalent in adults with ADHD. Poor sleep habits can also cause ADHD symptoms.
Many people who suffer from ADHD have co-occurring conditions such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and learning disabilities. Sometimes, treating the root condition can help eliminate the symptoms of ADHD. If you suffer from other issues, it is essential to tell your mental health professional as this can influence the effectiveness of your treatment.
It is essential to talk to your primary care physician, who can refer you to a health professional who is certified in ADHD assessments for adults. Find out if there are support groups for adults who have ADHD in your locality. They can provide resources and a list of specialties of professionals. You can also contact the insurance company you have to determine which health healthcare providers are covered under your plan.
Treatment
Generally, the best approach to determine if you have ADHD is to undergo a thorough examination by a medical professional. The evaluation should contain questions about your childhood, your present life, and screening for ADHD symptoms. You might be asked whether your ADHD symptoms have caused issues at work, at school or with your relationships.
There are a myriad of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD, including medication and counseling. Counseling can include psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, and cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. These treatments teach you how to manage your symptoms, and how to change negative thinking patterns to positive ones. diagnosis adhd can also assist with other mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression that often co-occur with ADHD.
Psychostimulants such as dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate are commonly used for treating adults with ADHD. These medicines affect how certain chemicals in the brain communicate to regulate behavior. Your doctor will select the right medication for your needs and the symptoms you are experiencing, and adjust the dosage and frequency according to your needs. Nonstimulants can also be employed to treat people suffering from ADHD. They are not able to affect the same brain pathways that psychostimulants do. Examples of nonstimulant medicines are atomoxetine as well as guanfacine.
Other treatment options for adults with ADHD can include coaching or mentoring to teach strategies and coping techniques. You may learn to make use of a diary or planner, or learn techniques for managing your time. You could also benefit from adjusting your lifestyle to accommodate your ADHD symptoms, like working from home rather than in a workplace or using apps on your smartphone to monitor your tasks or scheduling appointments for times that are less crowded. You might also want to inquire about taking part in clinical trials which is a study trial designed to test new ways of treating ailments and diseases. (NIMH provides information on clinical trials.)
Sometimes your family doctor will refer you to a mental health specialist or other health healthcare professional to evaluate the severity of your ADHD. You can ask a family member or family member for recommendations or call an local ADHD support group.