Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult

For adults who are struggling professionally or personally, diagnosing ADHD can be a significant step in getting control. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment that may include reviews of school records and questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.

It is not unusual for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. NIMH offers guidelines on how to talk with your doctor about the disorder.

Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is often the first step in gaining control over symptoms that wreak havoc on one's personal and professional lives. The first step is to speak with your GP or seek out a mental health professional who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP does not have any knowledge of ADHD or other disorders, they could refer you to either a psychiatrist or psychologist for an assessment.

Typically the mental health professional will employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine whether you may be suffering from the condition, according to Adler. Then, he or she will ask you questions about your symptoms and look at your family history and medical background to ensure that there are no other conditions not causing your symptoms of ADHD.

Because people with ADHD tend to overlook details and become easily distracted, they frequently struggle with following directions or listening in class or at work. They tend to lose things that are essential for their work or activities, including keys, wallets and tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused when listening to long speeches. Fidgeting, excessive talk or texting or squirming are other signs of adult ADHD.

It is crucial to rule other conditions out when determining whether someone suffers from adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Stress and other physical ailments such as thyroid issues can be a source of symptoms similar to ADHD. In the DSM-5, professionals are now required to consider the severity of a person's symptoms when determining if they are suffering from ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.

Many people suffering from ADHD have a lifelong struggle without ever getting a diagnosis because it's not obvious in childhood. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing event as they realize the reason why they struggled in school and failed to achieve their full potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty for blaming others or themselves for their troubles, and they may be devastated by missed opportunities when they were treated with respect.

Treatment

The first step in obtaining treatment for ADHD as an adult is to visit the healthcare professional for an assessment. This can be done in person or via video chat. Only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The specialist will require information about your medical history as well as family-related mental health issues. This is due to the fact that a number of emotional and physical conditions can cause symptoms that are similar to those associated with ADHD and need to be addressed before an assessment can be made.

The expert will inquire about your work and lifestyle, as well as how is adult adhd diagnosed your symptoms affect your life. They will be especially interested in if you displayed signs of ADHD before the age of 12. They may also interview those who were close to you as a child and ask them about their experiences.

A detailed medical history can help your doctor decide whether you require medication or another treatment. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, including sleep apnea, thyroid issues and lead poisoning may cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults who have a history of depression or anxiety will require evaluation and treated more carefully, as these conditions often coexist.

If a medical professional believes that you need medication they will prescribe a suitable drug. The kind of medication you need will depend on your symptoms and the way they impact your life. The stimulants are the most frequently prescribed medications for ADHD. They are not suitable for everyone, and the first drug you try may not work or cause unwanted side negative effects. Your healthcare provider might ask whether you're taking any other medication. This includes prescription drugs or supplements as well as prescription drugs. Certain kinds of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.

Counseling is an essential component of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal with feelings of failure, underachievement and frustration that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can also help you how long does it take to get diagnosed with adhd to manage your anger as well as improve your organization and time management skills.

If you have mental illness it is crucial to find an expert in healthcare who is trained in the field. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD. However it is recommended to consult a specialist therapist. These specialists are likely to be more familiar with adult ADHD and the challenges they face as well as having experience working with other clients. You can inquire with your local mental health clinic or with ADDitude's directory to find a specialist who is working with adults suffering from ADHD.

Medication

A diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards managing your symptoms and enhancing your life. If you've found it difficult to realize your maximum potential at work, find it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to complete tasks at home and at work, a diagnosis of ADHD might be the answer you have been searching for.

ADHD treatment for adults starts with a thorough interview and review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've been experiencing. The psychologist or psychiatrist will determine if the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for ADHD apply to you. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that persist throughout most of your day and interfere with social, academic or professional functioning.

Adults who suffer from untreated ADHD frequently have coexisting disorders, including anxiety and depression. Jaksa says that these disorders can worsen or cause symptoms of ADHD. He says that stress and frustration due to low performance can cause feelings of low-self-esteem. "Getting an evaluation can help these individuals understand the root causes of their struggles and may help to reduce or eliminate some of their anxieties and allow them to concentrate more on areas in which they excel," Jaksa says.

The best treatment for adults suffering from ADHD is typically the combination of behavior therapy and medication. Stimulants can boost concentration, reduce impulsive behaviors and aid in achieving organization. In many cases these drugs can enhance motivation and mood. People who take stimulants should be aware of potential side effects, which include problems with sleeping and drinking or eating enough. People who take stimulants to treat ADHD might have mood swings that could be difficult to manage.

Talk to your health care provider about whether you're suitable for clinical trials of new treatments or medicines. These studies aid researchers in finding more effective ways to prevent, diagnose or treat diseases and conditions.

Counseling

Untreated ADHD can cause issues in all areas of your life. The effects of procrastination, among others, can affect your relationships as well as your career and financial health. The first step in reducing the negative effects and getting back in control is to get a diagnosis and seek treatment.

Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children, either because their family and teachers were unaware of the condition or they displayed mild symptoms which were not noticed. Some adults might be able to manage their symptoms in childhood, but struggled with their symptoms in adulthood due to the increased demands of work and family.

To be diagnosed as having ADHD mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two areas of your life. The impairment could mean losing your job because of an inability to concentration and organizational skills, or being put on academic probation at college due to the inability to study for tests.

Women are better at avoiding symptoms than men. This makes it more difficult for women to be diagnosed. If you suffer from ADHD symptoms that impact your life at work or at home, you can accelerate the process of diagnosis by being upfront with your doctor. You may also be able to receive reasonable accommodations under ADA laws as well as other workplace laws.

Your mental health professional regardless of the kind of ADHD you have, will be looking to determine whether your symptoms started before the age of 12. They may request that you talk to people who knew you at this period and could conduct a series of tests to determine your attention and memory levels.

If you're given an diagnosis, your therapist will recommend a combination of medications and non-medication therapies to manage your symptoms. The majority of patients will try several different treatments before settling on the most effective one. It is recommended to keep a journal of your progress and speak with your physician regularly so that they can help adjust your treatment program according to your needs.