Adult ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
Ask your primary health care provider to refer you to a specialist if you think you might be suffering from ADHD. You can also ask your family and friends for recommendations or use the internet to find professionals competent to assess ADHD.
A medical professional will ask questions about your current symptoms, but under current guidelines, a diagnosis cannot be made without considering your past history. Your doctor may talk to your parents, teachers, or other adults who knew you as a child.
Understanding Your Symptoms
Many people suffering from ADHD do not realize they have the disorder until they reach adulthood. They might not have been diagnosed as children and have difficulty coping with issues at the classroom, at work or at home. A diagnosis and treatment plan will assist people get their lives back in order.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have trouble staying focused, planning or paying attention to the finer details. They are more prone to act on impulse, and are easily distracted. They might also find that they cannot remain focused on boring tasks and often shift their focus from one task to the next. This could lead to them missing important events, poor time management and frequent mistakes at work or in school.
The signs of adhd in adulthood are different for each person. They tend to appear in childhood, but they can also show up as an adult or in adolescence. The symptoms are required to be present for a minimum of 6 months and create significant difficulties in a variety of settings before they can be identified.
In Read Home may review school reports to look for any remarks about behavior problems or a lack of effort or inadequacy compared to your potential. The doctor may also ask to have the person being evaluated talk to his or her parents. Adults being evaluated by a doctor for ADHD should be honest and forthcoming about their concerns. They shouldn't hold back because of fear of embarrassment or shame.
Women who suffer from ADHD can be omitted or misdiagnosed, as their symptoms aren't as obvious as those of males. Their struggles are often concealed by the responsibilities of caring for children or being in gender-specific roles. Signs of ADHD among women include forgetting or not paying attention to important tasks, being slow to finish work on time, committing frequent errors and unable to concentrate at school or in the workplace. They are also more likely to exhibit fidgeting behaviors like bouncing the leg or tapping their feet.
Adults with ADHD are able to achieve success in their professional and personal lives. They just need to learn to manage their challenges, and to use the support that is available. They can also employ strategies that can assist them in their goals, such as an organizer or a calendar, as well as phone apps with reminders.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
The symptoms of adult ADHD can be difficult to distinguish from normal problems that occur in daily life, like forgetting appointments or losing track of tasks. The distinction is crucial, because if the disorder is not addressed, treated properly or not properly managed, it could lead to serious problems with work and social life which include financial problems and difficult relationships.
In the majority of cases the diagnosis of ADHD should be determined by a mental health professional who has special training and experience in treating the condition. This includes clinical psychologists, therapists and physicians (such as psychiatrists, neurologists or family doctors) who specialize in psychiatry or neurology. Professionals who are certified are also acquainted with co-existing conditions that often occur along with ADHD such as anxiety and depression.
A test to determine if a person is suffering from ADHD will require an extensive interview to look over the patient's medical, personal and family background. The interview will include questions regarding the impact of ADHD symptoms on a person's work and relationships. It is important to be honest and not hide any details.
It is also a good idea to raise any issues that the person has experienced in their personal or professional life since childhood. In many instances, these problems can reveal patterns that suggest that the person has ADHD. For instance, a lot of people with ADHD shift jobs frequently and have trouble making close connections. Additionally, it is common for adults with ADHD to have issues with money management and spend more than they should.
In certain instances, an evaluation for adult ADHD might include additional tests like neuropsychological, psychological or testing for learning disabilities to determine the cause of the person's issues. For example, a person with ADHD may also have a learning disability like dyscalculia or dyslexia. In these situations, accommodations--tools or changes in the environment that help manage a disability--may be helpful.
In addition to treatment methods and lifestyle adjustments Some individuals with ADHD benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. These therapies can help people recognize their own problematic behaviors and thoughts and develop coping mechanisms to manage them.
Finding Treatment
Many people who suffer from ADHD experience the same difficulties as they did when they were kids: problems with relationships and at work, difficulty completing their schoolwork or finding jobs. These issues often lead to medical referral for diagnosis and treatment. The first step for many people is to consult their primary care physician. He or she could refer you to a mental health professional with experience in diagnosing ADHD in adults.
Your doctor will perform an extensive exam to determine whether you suffer from ADHD or another condition that can cause symptoms that mimic ADHD. They will inquire about your concerns, review your behavior and history, ask about your family history and medical history, and utilize the psychiatric scales and questionnaires. The doctor will also examine your physical health, such as your heart rate and blood pressure. Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms include depression, anxiety and stress as well as certain medications and addiction to substances.
Adults suffering from ADHD may be unable to recognize the condition. They might have learned to conceal their symptoms or make excuses for them but still have low self-confidence and self-esteem. Women are often better than men in hiding their symptoms, and have gotten used to being branded a slacker, goof-off or troublemaker.
In an ADHD assessment, your doctor will look at your symptoms and their impact on your life. They may also conduct interviews with your family and friends, as well as colleagues at work. He or she will make use of different tools, such as old report cards, to record childhood ADHD symptoms.
Treatment options for adults with ADHD are behavioral and pharmacological (medication). Medications that help balance levels of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters are the most frequently prescribed treatments for ADHD. These include stimulants, like amphetamine and methylphenidate as well as the nonstimulant Atomoxetine.
Certain behavioral therapies can help as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and education on ADHD. Some people with ADHD can benefit from a change in their lifestyle by establishing regular routines and using journals or a planner. Marriage and family counseling, or a life-coach who can assist with time management and organizational skills, are effective for others. Certain people with ADHD may also benefit from accommodating at work or school like extended deadlines or flex time, which makes it easier to achieve targets for performance and achieve success.
Finding Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be stressful. It could be the first step towards finally managing the symptoms that have been in your life for many years. Adult ADHD symptoms could include difficulties maintaining a schedule for work or school obligations as well as losing personal items, missing important appointments, spending money in a hurry, not following medical instructions and many more. These issues can lead to chronic stress, low confidence and feelings of unworthiness. Being supported by a strong network and following the best methods can make all the difference in the way you deal with your issues.
In the past, a lot people with ADHD were misdiagnosed. They may have had difficulty finding a suitable job or failing in their educational efforts, and struggled to establish long-term relationships. They could be left with a lot of regrets about missed opportunities and lost time.
A diagnosis of adult ADHD usually involves a comprehensive interview with an expert in mental health, including family members should it be possible. In addition, the person is required to complete questionnaires and scales, as well as to discuss their history. In order to be diagnosed, the person must have experienced at least five symptoms of inattention and/or five symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity before age 12.
Based on the individual and their symptoms, further tests in neuropsychology or psychotherapy could be performed. The tests can provide more details about how the individual's ADHD affects their lives, and help determine if there are any co-existing disorders that require treatment.
Adult ADHD is treated by psychological counseling (psychotherapy), educational programs, and sometimes medication. Psychotherapy helps people comprehend and manage ADHD and build skills for coping with it. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people to change their negative thought patterns and behaviors. Family and marital counseling may also be beneficial for people with ADHD who are having difficulty maintaining relationships.
Asking your doctor or specialist for a recommendation is the first step in finding a licensed counsellor. You can also reach out to the local psychology graduate school or a university hospital for recommendations. Choose a psychologist who you are comfortable with and who is experienced in treating adults.