Getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Many people seek a diagnose when they realize that ADHD is causing issues at work or in their relationships. NIMH suggests that people seeking an assessment consult with their primary healthcare provider or a mental health professional.
They will request an extensive medical history and perform tests like symptom rating scales and psychological tests. They can also undergo a physical exam to determine if they have any other medical conditions that could be misinterpreted as ADHD or thyroid issues, for example or seizures.
Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD can be eye-opening and liberating, however it can also be a source of anxiety. Adults who have struggled with the symptoms of ADHD for years may decide to seek out a medical opinion, motivated by their frustrations at work or in their relationships, or because they've been told by friends or family that they might have ADHD. It is important to keep in mind that it can take time for a medical professional to make an ADHD diagnosis and the process includes more than just a series of clinical interviews or tests.
The first step is to determine if your ADHD symptoms meet requirements for the disorder: Many of them are present before age 12. They are seen in multiple settings, for example, home, school, and work. They affect daily life.
Because symptoms of ADHD can also be caused by mood disorders, like bipolar or anxiety and other physical conditions and illnesses, your healthcare professional might want to conduct additional tests prior to making an official diagnosis. This may include clinical interviews, rating-scales for symptoms, or psychological testing to assess thinking abilities as well as problem solving abilities and memory.
It's crucial to be open with your mental health professional, and this might involve discussing how the difficulties you're having in different areas of your life affect your mood. In addition the mental health professional conducting your assessment may ask you to talk to your spouse, or close family and friends members to get a fuller picture of how you've struggled. They may even ask permission to ask them to fill out questionnaires about their experiences with you and compare them with your own.
Signs and symptoms
Adults with ADHD often notice that their issues interfere with everyday activities, especially at work and school. They may have trouble keeping jobs or maintaining relationships. They may also find it difficult to make ends meet because of their lack of attention and impulsivity, which makes it difficult for them remember things, manage tasks or complete projects. The symptoms could be mild or moderate. It could also be severe.
To diagnose ADHD doctors use common tools like checklists, interview questions, and questionnaires. They also analyze the medical and family history as well as other mental health issues. If a person has several of the 9 symptoms, their provider uses guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) to assign a diagnosis: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type.
Inattentional symptoms include inattention issues with small details, daydreaming, and appearing easily distracted. Click On this site with completing tasks and staying on task, and a tendency to lose the track of time or get side-tracked are also inattentive symptoms.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type often fidget, move around frequently and have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. They tend to lose things easily and have difficulty managing their daily routines at work or at home. They may lose keys, phones or wallets often. They have difficulty waiting their turn in the classroom, at work or during play. They can be easily annoyed or stressed and have frequent mood shifts.
In adults, it is more common for people suffering from ADHD to have co-occurring conditions like conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorder depression or anxiety as well as tic disorders, Tourette syndrome and other substance abuse problems. The presence of co-occurring disorders can complicate treatment and make it difficult to identify ADHD.
Treatment
If you think you have ADHD, the first step in getting an accurate diagnosis is to speak with your primary care physician. They will likely recommend you to a mental health specialist. The professionals will examine your symptoms and concerns at school, work or at home to determine how much they interfere with your daily life. They might conduct a structured interview or ask family members or close friends to assist. They will also review your family and medical history and conduct a physical exam.
Your doctor will also look at how long you've had these symptoms, and the impact they affect your life today. To be eligible for a diagnosis of ADHD symptoms, the person's symptoms must be present for at minimum six months and cannot be explained by a different disorder like anxiety or depression. They also have to interfere with everyday tasks like getting to school, finishing assignments on time, or maintaining a career.
When you are evaluated A mental health professional could use standardized behavior ratings scales and ADHD symptoms checklists. You will also be given an assessment of your cognitive abilities that will check your executive and working memory functioning as well as your spatial and visual abilities. They will also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, for example seizure or thyroid disorder.
If your doctor determines that you have ADHD the doctor will explain what medications are available and discuss the treatment options. It is generally recommended to combine treatment with talk therapy (counseling). Therapy helps you to manage your symptoms and improve communication with family members and other coworkers. It can also help address issues that may develop in marriages and relationships because of the difficulties that ADHD can create at work and at home.
Medication
ADHD symptoms in adults are generally milder than in childhood. However they can still cause problems at work and at home. The disorder can result in difficulty in obtaining or maintaining a job, trouble with relationships and social interactions and academic failures, low self-esteem and emotional distress, temper outbursts and even antisocial behaviors.
The medication can treat the disorder by increasing and balancing levels of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. They regulate the flow of information within the brain. Stimulants, commonly prescribed for ADHD in adults, are the most common medications. Examples include Jornay (methylphenidate extended-release tablets), Xelstrym (dextroamphetamine extended-release oral suspension), Cotempla (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release orally disintegrating tablet) and Adhansia (methylphenidate hydrochloride instant-release orally disintegrating tablet). The non-stimulant atomoxetine as well as certain antidepressants, such as bupropion, also are used to treat ADHD in adults. These medications work slower than stimulants, and may be a better choice for people who are unable to take stimulants due to health problems or serious side-effects.
Psychotherapy (also known as cognitive-behavioral treatment) could be beneficial in treating comorbid disorders associated with ADHD like depression and anxiety. Psychotherapy may be a better treatment than medications alone for these conditions, according to research. Psychotherapy focuses on teaching skills to manage the disorder and improve your performance at work, school and in relationships. The aim is to boost the self-esteem of the individual and decrease the risk of problematic behavior. It is also a way to increase their efficiency and overall performance. It is recommended that every psychotherapy approach for adults ADHD sufferers include a cognitive-behavioral component. In one study, researchers discovered that ADHD patients who received both psychotherapy and medication reported greater improvement than those who just took the pills.
Counseling
For adults who don't want to use medication, therapy and counseling may provide significant relief. Individual therapy can address issues such as low self-esteem, feelings of being insecure and frequent job changes that often occur with ADHD. It can also help improve relationships and communication by assisting patients and their loved ones to comprehend the disorder and learn strategies for dealing with it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses primarily on teaching patients how to change their negative thinking and how to manage their behavior. This type of treatment can reduce symptoms of inattentive ADHD and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, as well as comorbid mood disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Therapists can also concentrate on the development of organizational and time-management skills or teach coping techniques for dealing with emotional regulation, impulse control and relationship issues that can arise from impulsive behavior. diagnosed with adhd can help people live a more productive and satisfying life, especially at work.
Counseling can help people with ADHD to apply for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This will improve their job performance and overall satisfaction. This could include altering the structure of their work to allow them to be more flexible in meeting deadlines and finishing tasks in time.
Choosing the right therapist is crucial to get the most out of treatment for adult ADHD. Asking about the therapist's approach and if they have been able to treat ADHD in adults is crucial when interviewing potential therapists. Checking the credentials of therapists and insurance coverage is a smart idea. Some providers offer sliding scale fees or online therapy services to make therapy more accessible to those who can't afford it.