Getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Many people seek a diagnosis when they realize they have trouble at work or with relationships because of ADHD. NIMH recommends those seeking a diagnosis talk to their primary care provider or mental health professional.
They will take a thorough history and complete tests like symptom-rating scales or psychological tests. They might also undergo physical examinations to rule out medical issues that may be a sign of ADHD or seizures or thyroid problems.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be revealing and liberating, but it can also be stressful. Adults who have been struggling with the symptoms of ADHD for a long time may decide to seek out a medical opinion, due to frustrations at workplace or in their relationships or due to being told by friends or family that they might have ADHD. It is crucial to keep in mind that a health professional can take an extended time to diagnose ADHD, and that the process is more than just completing standardized tests or conducting a series of clinical interviews.
The first step is to determine if your ADHD symptoms meet requirements for the disorder: Several of them occur before age 12. They can occur in more than one setting like school, home and work. They can affect the daily functioning of a person.
Your healthcare provider may need to conduct additional tests to determine an accurate diagnosis. This is because the symptoms of ADHD can also be caused by mood disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other physical conditions or illnesses. This could include interviews with a psychologist and rating scales for symptoms, and psychological testing to evaluate your thinking abilities as well as your problem-solving abilities and memory.
It's important that you are completely honest with your mental health professional. This could mean discussing how your mood was affected by your struggles in different areas of life. The mental health professional who is evaluating you may also ask to speak with your spouse, family members and friends to gain an understanding of your struggles. They may even ask permission to have them fill out questionnaires about their experiences with you and then compare them to your personal.
Signs and symptoms
Adults suffering from ADHD typically find that their symptoms interfere with daily life activities, particularly at school and work. They might have trouble keeping a job, staying in relationships, or even making ends meet because of the lack of attention and impulsivity that make it difficult to follow directions and remember things, manage tasks or complete tasks. The symptoms could be mild, moderate or severe.
To determine ADHD doctors use standardized tools called checklists or questionnaires, as well as interview questions. They also analyze medical and family histories and 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.
The signs of an inattentive personality include difficulty paying attention to details, daydreaming and appearing easily distracted. Inattentiveness is also characterized by difficulty following and completing tasks, as well being prone to getting lost in the flow or lose track of time.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type often fidget, move around frequently and have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. They tend to forget things quickly and have difficulty organizing their daily activities at work or at home. They may lose keys, phones, papers or wallets frequently. They may have trouble waiting for their turn in school, at work, or in play. They are easily frustrated or stressed, and experience frequent mood swings.
Adults who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from co-occurring conditions such as disorder of the opposition depression, anxiety as well as tic disorders. Tourette syndrome and addiction issues. The presence of co-occurring disorders can complicate treatment and make it difficult to identify ADHD.
Treatment
Talking to your primary care provider is the first step to being diagnosed in the event that you suspect you may have ADHD. They can refer you to an expert in mental health. These professionals will review your symptoms and issues at school, work or at home to assess how they impact your daily life. They may use an organized interview or ask family members or close friends to help. They will also go over the medical and family history of your family, and perform a physical examination.
Your doctor will also consider the duration of these symptoms and what effect they are having on your life. In order to be granted a diagnosis of ADHD, a person's symptoms must be present for at minimum six months, and they cannot be explained by a different disorder such as depression or anxiety. They must also interfere with daily tasks, such as getting to school, finishing assignments on time, or maintaining an occupation.
When you are evaluated the mental health professional may employ standardized scales for behavior and ADHD symptoms checklists. You will also receive an assessment of your cognitive abilities that will assess your executive and working memory functioning and also your visual and spatial capabilities. They may also test for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms like a seizure disorder or thyroid condition.
If adult adhd diagnosis uk determines that you have ADHD the doctor will explain what medications are available and will discuss the treatment options. Most often it is a combination of medications and talk therapy (counseling) is the best option. Therapy helps you learn to manage your symptoms and improve communication with your family members and colleagues. It also helps to address issues that may arise in relationships and marriages due to the issues that ADHD can create at home and work.
Medication
The signs of ADHD in adults are usually more mild than in childhood, but they can cause issues at home and at work. The disorder can cause problems in obtaining or maintaining a good job, problems with social relationships and interactions and self-esteem issues, academic failures emotional anxiety, temper tantrums and disruptive behavior.
Treatment with medication can help treat the disorder by increasing and balancing levels of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which regulate the flow of information within the brain. Stimulants are the most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD in adults. 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 immediate-release oral disintegrating tablet). The non-stimulant atomoxetine, a non-stimulant antidepressants, like bupropion, are also used to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs perform more slowly than stimulants, and could be more suitable for people who aren't able to take stimulant medications because of health problems or serious adverse effects.
Psychotherapy, also known as cognitive-behavioral treatment, could be helpful in treating disorders that are comorbid, such as depression and anxiety that are related to ADHD. Psychotherapy is a more effective treatment than medications alone for these conditions, according to research. Psychotherapy is focused on teaching techniques to manage the disorder and improve your performance at school, at work and in relationships. The aim is to increase the self-esteem of the individual and reduce problematic behavior, as well as improve their performance and overall performance. It is recommended that all psychotherapy approaches for adult ADHD sufferers include a cognitive element. In one study, researchers discovered that ADHD patients who received both psychotherapy and medication reported a higher level of improvement than those who only took the pills.
Counseling
For adults who aren't able to take medication, therapy and counseling may offer significant relief. Individual therapy can address issues such as low self-esteem, feelings of failure and frequent job changes that often are a part of ADHD. It can also help improve relationships and improve communication by helping the patients and their families to understand the disorder and learn ways to cope.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses primarily on teaching patients to change their negative thinking and 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 help people develop strategies for controlling impulses emotional regulation, relationship and issues that arise due to the impulsive behavior. These strategies can aid you in living a more productive life particularly at work.
Counseling can assist people with ADHD apply for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This can help improve their work performance and satisfaction. For professionals, this may mean changing the way their work is structured to allow them more flexibility to meet deadlines and complete tasks in time.
Selecting the right therapist is crucial to get the most benefit from treatment for adult ADHD. The therapist's approach and whether they have dealt with ADHD in adults is essential 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 easier for those who are unable to afford it.