How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
Adults must undergo a thorough assessment by a mental health professional or health care professional to determine if they suffer from ADHD. This may include interviews with the patient as well as close family members or colleagues.
In addition, the person being evaluated could be required to fill out questionnaires and provide written statements regarding childhood behavior. A complete evaluation will also include screening for ADHD symptoms as well as a variety of psychological tests.
Signs and symptoms
Many people suffering from ADHD are diagnosed only when the symptoms become more evident in their daily lives. It is crucial to be aware of the signs to speak with a healthcare professional about your concerns. The health professional may ask you about your child-like symptoms. This is because, as per current guidelines the diagnosis can only be established if the symptoms began prior to the age of 12.
Do you often forget deadlines or appointments, for example? Are you struggling to keep the financial records or other responsibilities? Are you impulsive and do you make reckless decisions that can lead to problems with family members, friends, and co-workers. These behaviors could be a sign of ADHD, which can make it difficult to keep a job and manage relationships. Fortunately, treatment can reduce the severity of these symptoms, allowing you to reach your goals in both professional and personal life.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are similar to the symptoms in children, however they might be slightly different because of the way that adults perform in their social and work life. They vary from mild to severe with moderate symptoms that cause noticeable changes in your performance. In severe cases, the symptoms can lead to issues with relationships and finances and also difficulties at school or your career.
If you think you have ADHD The first step is to talk with your primary care provider to get an appointment with an expert in mental health who can conduct an assessment. You can also request an information from your health insurance company of professionals who evaluate ADHD or other conditions. A support group for ADHD is also a good resource. Members may have recommendations for professionals in the area.
The evaluator could also ask you about your symptoms. They will also review your medical history and psychiatric condition. They will fill out a questionnaire and survey with you, and could also have other people (such as your parents, teachers spouses, close friends) fill it out. The evaluator might also decide to conduct a physical exam and neurological, psychological or testing for learning disabilities, should it be necessary.
Diagnosis
If a person is experiencing ADHD symptoms that cause problems with their daily activities, he or she may need an evaluation from a mental health professional or primary care physician. The evaluation will look over the person's medical and psychiatric history, talk to the person about their symptoms, utilize checklists or rating scales to evaluate ADHD-related symptoms and take psychological tests to measure working memory and executive functions (abilities that involve planning and decision-making) and spatial and visual ability. Psychological or neuropsychological tests can be used to determine if a coexisting condition is the reason behind the person's symptoms.
During the process of assessment, the evaluator will talk to the person about their issues and symptoms they're having at home, at school and work. It is crucial for the person being assessed to be honest and not hide information to avoid shame or embarrassment. In most cases, the person being evaluated will interview the person's significant other, close friends and family members. This is done to provide an overall understanding of the person's challenges and the impact they have on the individual's relationships.
To determine ADHD the person evaluating will refer to symptoms from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5). These include trouble paying attention to details or making erroneous mistakes, difficulty staying focused on tasks or activities, and issues in following directions and completing chores, schoolwork or other duties. The evaluator may also ask about the person's childhood or family history.
If the evaluation finds that the person has ADHD They will refer them to a specialist who can offer solutions. Since adults may have weak or hazy memories of their childhood experiences and mental health evaluations, the person being evaluated may need to have parents or significant others fill out retrospective ADHD profiles. This will allow the evaluator to confirm the childhood ADHD symptoms and determine ADHD as a present disorder. Some people with ADHD may also suffer from co-occurring disorders like substance abuse, depression and anxiety. These issues need to be addressed to relieve ADHD symptoms.
Treatment
Get help if you're having trouble completing tasks at work or at home or if you suffer from forgetfulness or impulsive behaviors. You can seek advice from an expert in mental health with special training for working with adults with ADHD or your primary health care provider. Ask your family and friends for suggestions or search for professionals in your area on the internet. Before visiting a professional, read reviews and make sure your insurance covers the costs.
To be diagnosed with ADHD you must show symptoms that are more than once a week and result in significant impairment in several areas of your life. The impairment can be seen in the form of losing your job or having financial problems due to excessive spending or failing classes at school, marital difficulties, or difficulties in relationships with family and friends. The American Psychiatric Association's guidelines for diagnosing for ADHD are found in the fifth edition of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 criteria for determining adult ADHD includes a description of your symptoms, completion of scales and questionnaires by you and your caregivers and teachers, and a thorough medical and psycho-psychiatric history.
There are different types of treatment options for adults suffering from ADHD that include psychotherapy as well as medication. Behavioral therapy teaches you how to manage and modify your behavior. It also teaches you ways to improve your ability to manage and solve problems. Psychotherapy can help you learn to understand the connection between your ADHD and identify the negative patterns of thinking that can contribute to the disorder.
Psychotherapy can be beneficial for addressing depression, anxiety or substance misuse and also helps manage your ADHD. Counseling for your family and marriage are also beneficial particularly when your children or spouse have ADHD and face the same issues that you do.
Adults with ADHD are best treated by combining treatments. The first step is to speak with your GP, who can guide you to the best treatment for you. Your GP will be able to tell you if an assessment for ADHD is the best thing to do.
Support
Support groups can be beneficial for those suffering from ADHD. They can learn from others and share their experiences. www.iampsychiatry.com provide not only emotional support but also instruct individuals on ADHD treatments, and coping techniques. People suffering from ADHD might also find it helpful to seek out professional assistance in managing their symptoms. Certain professionals provide services specifically targeted at adults suffering from ADHD while others may offer general therapy sessions.
Talk therapy is one way to control the symptoms of ADHD. Therapists can work with people to improve their self-esteem, and help them develop better methods for dealing with anger and stress. Therapists who are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, which is focused on altering the way a person thinks.
Adults suffering from ADHD face challenges they didn't face when they were children, such as financial problems, relationship conflicts and academic issues. Individual therapy can help people deal with these issues and work to overcome negative feelings such as shame, embarrassment and resentment.
A person must exhibit significant impairment in two or more settings to be diagnosed with ADHD. This could include being unable to work, having excessive conflict and distress in a marriage, or being in trouble with the law as a result of impulsive spending or reckless driving. It is important to examine the root causes of the problem, such as medical conditions, alcohol or addiction.
In an ADHD assessment, a mental health professional or health care provider will interview the patient or spouse to inquire about past issues, and conduct psychiatric evaluations. They may also use behavior rating scales, or checklists of symptoms and take psychological tests that examine the cognitive functions of the individual, such as memory and decision-making. They can also review the person's medical, educational and family history in order to rule out any other possible causes of symptoms.
During the evaluation it is crucial to be as honest and forthcoming as you are able. The therapist will determine whether the patient is taking steps to manage symptoms, like keeping a regular sleeping schedule or avoiding food items that could aggravate symptoms.