ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
Many adults are unable to get an ADHD diagnosis because doctors follow a different set of guidelines for treating the disorder than those for adolescents and children. The diagnosis requires at least five symptoms from the categories of hyperactivity, inattention, and the tendency to be impulsive.
Evaluations by professionals will ask you questions about your childhood, your work and academic life, your alcohol and drug use, and your family history. They may also talk with your spouse or friends.
What is ADHD?
It's not always a good thing to receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood regardless of whether you're constantly losing your keys, have trouble in school or work, or have trouble staying focused during conversations. "You know you're not crazy, and this puts you in an ideal position to manage it," says pediatrician Mary V. Solanto, Ph.D. who is an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine on 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.
A face-to-face appointment with your healthcare professional is usually the first step in an ADHD evaluation. They will discuss your symptoms and how they affect your life. Bring any report cards from your childhood to help the provider to understand the history of your ADHD. Your doctor might ask you to speak to a close friend, spouse, family member or co-worker who knows you well. They might inquire about your relationship, how they observe your behavior and how it affects your life. They could also inquire what ADHD symptoms can be linked to other conditions, such as anxiety or depression.
The interview may include questions about your life such as how often you forget to pay bills or make appointments, or if you have trouble with time management or organizational skills. It is crucial to be truthful in your answers and take note of how these behaviors affect your daily life. If adhd adult diagnosis uk about your symptoms, it's worth consulting your healthcare professional to refer you to a different psychologist or doctor for an evaluation. You can find self-tests and rating scales online, but they aren't as reliable or as valid as an appointment with a qualified provider. Certain tests may even lead to a false diagnosis, so it's best to talk to your doctor first.
Signs and symptoms
Consult your primary healthcare provider if think you might be suffering from ADHD. He or she may refer you to a mental healthcare specialist for an assessment, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5 provides clinical guidelines to diagnose mental disorders. It's crucial to give your doctor as much detail as possible about your symptoms so that they can provide an accurate diagnosis.
The person who conducts the evaluation will review your mental, psychological and medical history, including any past issues, and ask about how the symptoms affect your life. The person conducting the evaluation might also talk to your children and spouse as well as teachers, colleagues and other people who know you. Your evaluation may include neuropsychological, behavioral, or learning disability testing. These tests can give your healthcare provider additional information on how your ADHD symptoms affect you and help rule out other conditions that can 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 how these signs affect 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.
Typically, these symptoms show up in the early years of childhood. They can also develop in adulthood. Adults may recognize their own ADHD symptoms when their children are diagnosed, or because of changes in their lives, such as a new job or marriage, or a move to their own home. In some cases, the condition is not diagnosed until an adult has significant issues at work or with their relationships. This can include being dismissed from a job, having financial problems or being in trouble with the law.
Diagnosis
If you think you have ADHD, a screening is the first step towards finding treatment. A licensed mental health professional interviews you and examines your symptoms, medical background and family history. The interview might also include questions about work and school performance, as well as how the symptoms affect your life at home and in your relationships. You may want to bring along copies of your report cards, teacher comments and any other documents pertinent.
The psychiatric professional uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to determine the diagnosis. For a diagnosis of ADHD symptoms, they must be present for at least six months and interfere with functioning or development in more than one setting for example, at school or at home. The symptoms of ADHD must not be attributed to any other mental disorder like mood disorders or anxiety.
Many people with ADHD have problems well into adulthood. Symptoms can impact work and school, lead to poor health in the financial or personal aspects and stress in relationships. Diagnosed and treated, you can improve your life.
Certain symptoms of ADHD change with age, for instance attention deficit symptoms can become more evident as you age and hyperactivity and impulsivity may lessen as you age. Other factors can cause problems like obstructive sleeping apnea occurs more often in adults with ADHD and sleep disorders are known to exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
Many people suffering from ADHD have co-occurring disorders such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and learning disabilities. Sometimes, treating the underlying condition can help eliminate the symptoms of ADHD. It is important to inform your mental health professional if you have any other medical conditions. This can affect the effectiveness of treatment.
It is important that you talk to your primary doctor who can refer to an expert in ADHD assessments for adults. Find out if there are support groups for adults suffering from ADHD in your area. They can provide assistance and a list specialists by specialization. You can also contact the insurance company that you have to find out which health care providers are covered under the plan you have.
Treatment
Generally, the best approach to determine if you have ADHD is to undergo a thorough examination by a health care professional. The evaluation should include questions regarding your childhood, questions about your present life and a check for ADHD symptoms. You may also be asked about any problems that your ADHD symptoms are causing at school, at work or in your relationships.
There are a myriad of treatment options for adults with ADHD, including counseling and medication. Psychotherapy can be a part of counseling, also known as talk therapy, and cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. These kinds of therapies help you learn skills to manage your symptoms and change negative patterns of thinking to positive ones. They can also help in dealing with other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, which frequently occur in conjunction with ADHD.
Treatment for adults suffering from ADHD usually involves psychostimulants like the methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). These medications alter the way that certain chemicals in your brain communicate and regulate your behavior. Your doctor will choose the right medication for you and your specific symptoms and will alter the dosage and frequency to suit your needs. Nonstimulants are also used to treat adults with ADHD. They do not affect the same brain pathways in the same way that psychostimulants do. Examples of nonstimulant drugs are atomoxetine as well as guanfacine.
Other options for treatment for adults suffering from ADHD can include mentoring or coaching to help you learn strategies and coping skills. For instance, you could learn how to use a planner or a journal or taught strategies to improve your time management. You could also benefit from altering your lifestyle to accommodate your ADHD symptoms, such as working from home instead of in a workplace or using apps on your smartphone to keep track of tasks, or scheduling appointments at times that are less busy. You may also want to ask about participating in a clinical trial that is a research study designed to test new methods of treating ailments and diseases. (NIMH provides information on clinical trials.)
Sometimes your family doctor will refer you to a mental health specialist or another health care professional for an evaluation of your ADHD. You could also ask your family member or friend for recommendations, or you can contact a local support group for those suffering from ADHD.