Getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Many people seek a diagnosis when they realize that ADHD is causing them difficulties at work or in their relationships. NIMH suggests that people seeking a diagnosis speak with their primary care provider or mental health professional.
They will take a thorough background and complete tests such as symptom rating scales or psychological tests. They might also undergo a physical exam to rule out medical conditions that could be similar to ADHD or thyroid problems or seizures.
Making a diagnosis
It can be a great relief and enlightening to receive the diagnosis of ADHD however, it can be also distressing. Adults who have been struggling with the symptoms of ADHD for years may decide to seek a professional opinion, motivated by their frustrations at work or in relationships or due to being told by friends or family that they may be suffering from ADHD. It is crucial to remember that a doctor can take several months to diagnose ADHD and the process is more than simply completing standardized tests or conducting clinical interviews.
The first step in the process is to determine whether your ADHD symptoms are in line with the criteria for the disorder: Several of them occur prior to the age of 12 years old. They may occur in more than one setting, such as school, home and work. They also interfere with the daily activities of people.
Since symptoms of ADHD can also be caused by mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or anxiety and other physical ailments and illnesses, your healthcare professional might want to conduct additional tests prior to making a diagnosis. This could include clinical interviews and rating scales for symptoms, and psychological testing to assess your thinking abilities as well as your problem-solving abilities and memory.
It is essential to be honest with your mental health professional, and this could mean discussing how the issues you're experiencing in various areas of your life have affected your mood. Additionally the mental health professional doing your assessment may ask you to talk to your spouse, or close family members to gain a complete picture of how you've struggled. They might even request permission to have family members fill out questionnaires to compare their experiences to yours.
Signs and symptoms
Adults with ADHD might notice that their symptoms affect the way they live their lives, particularly at school and at work. They may have difficulty keeping a job, staying in relationships, or being able to make ends meet due to the inattention and impulsivity that makes it difficult to follow directions and remember things, manage tasks or complete tasks. The symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe.
To determine ADHD the professionals use standard tools, such as checklists, questionnaires and questions for interviews. They also look at the family and medical histories of patients 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 difficulties paying attention to even the smallest details, waking up and being easily distracted. Inattention can also be manifested by a lack of focus and difficulty working on tasks, aswell 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 lose things easily and have trouble organizing their day-to-day activities at work or at home. They might lose keys, phones, papers or wallets frequently. They have difficulty waiting their turn in school, at work or in play. They are easily frustrated or stressed, and experience frequent mood swings.
In adults, it is more common for people suffering from ADHD to have co-occurring conditions, such as conduct disorders or oppositional defiant depression or anxiety as well as tic disorders, Tourette syndrome and other substance abuse problems. Co-occurring disorders can complicate treatment and may make it harder to identify ADHD.
Treatment
Talking to your primary care physician is the first step in receiving a diagnosis in the event that you suspect you may have ADHD. They'll likely recommend you to a mental health specialist. They will assess your symptoms and concerns in the workplace at school, at home or at home to determine how much they are interfering with your life. They will use an organized interview and may seek the assistance of family members or friends who know you well. They will also go over your medical and family history and conduct a physical exam.
Your doctor will also take a look at how long you've had these symptoms and the effect they have on your daily life. In order to receive 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 like anxiety or depression. They also have to interfere with daily tasks such as getting to school, completing assignments on time, or sustaining the job.
During your examination Your mental health specialist may utilize standardized scales for assessing behavior and ADHD symptoms checklists. They may also conduct a cognitive test to check your working memory, executive functioning and visual and spatial abilities. adhd adults diagnosis will also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms like a seizure disorder or thyroid condition.
If your mental health provider determines that you suffer from ADHD the doctor will explain what medications are available and will discuss possible treatment options. It is often best to combine therapy with medication (counseling). Therapy helps you learn to manage your symptoms and improve communication with family members and other coworkers. It can also address problems that may develop in marriages and relationships due to the issues that ADHD can cause at work and home.
Medication
The symptoms of ADHD in adults are typically more mild than in childhood, but they can still cause problems at work and home. The disorder can cause difficulties in obtaining or keeping a job, trouble with social and interpersonal relationships and academic failures, low self-esteem and emotional distress, temper flares and potentially antisocial behaviors.
The medication can aid in the condition by increasing and balancing neurotransmitters, brain chemicals, which control the flow of information within the brain. The stimulants are the most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD in adults. Jornay, Xelstrym, Cotempla and Adhansia are just a few examples of stimulants. Adults are also treated with the non-stimulant atomoxetine and antidepressants like bupropion. These drugs perform more slowly than stimulants, and could be better suited to those who are unable to take stimulants due to health issues or serious side effects.
Psychotherapy (also called cognitive-behavioral therapy) may be useful for treating disorders that are comorbid to ADHD like depression and anxiety. Research suggests that psychotherapy can be the most effective treatment for these conditions than relying on medications on their own. Psychotherapy focuses on teaching skills to manage the disorder and improve performance at school, at work and in relationships. The aim is to boost the self-esteem of the person and decrease the risk of problematic behavior. It is also a way to increase their functioning and performance. It is recommended that every psychotherapy program for adults ADHD sufferers include a cognitive-behavioral component. In one study, researchers found that ADHD patients who received therapy and medication showed greater improvement than those who just took the medication.
Counseling
Adults who do not want to take medication can get relief from therapy and counseling. Individual therapy can address issues such as low self-esteem and feelings of being insecure that are commonly associated with ADHD. It can also help improve relationships and communication by helping patients and their loved ones to understand the condition and develop strategies for dealing with it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching patients how to change their negative thoughts 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 may also focus on the development of organizational and time-management skills or teach coping techniques to deal with impulse control, emotional regulation and relationships issues that can arise from the impulsive behavior. These strategies can help people live happier and more productive life, especially in the workplace.
Counseling can also help people with ADHD in requesting workplace accommodations that could be offered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which can significantly improve job performance and satisfaction. For professionals, this could be a matter of changing the way their work is structured so that they have more flexibility to meet deadlines and finish tasks within the timeframes they need to.
Choosing the right therapist is essential to getting the most value from treatment for adults with ADHD. When interviewing potential therapists it is important to ask about their approach and whether they have expertise in treating ADHD in adults. It is also a good idea to check therapist credentials and insurance coverage. Some providers offer an affordable sliding scale fee or offer online therapy services that make therapy accessible to people who cannot afford to pay out from their pockets.