Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult

Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires completed by caregivers and teachers.

Most people suffering from ADHD live with symptoms since the age of five, and it's not uncommon to be diagnosed with it as an adult. NIMH has suggestions on how to speak with your doctor about the disorder.

Diagnosis

It is important to get diagnosed with ADHD as you reach adulthood. This will help you gain control over the symptoms that can cause havoc in your personal and professional life. The first step is to consult your GP or a mental health specialist who is experienced in treating adults with ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD, he or she could refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for assessment.

Typically an expert in mental health will use the six-question ADHD screener to determine if you may be suffering from the disorder, says Adler. Then, the doctor will interview you about your symptoms and review your family history and medical history to confirm that any other conditions are not causing your ADHD-like symptoms.

Since people who suffer from ADHD tend to overlook details and become easily distracted, they often have trouble following instructions or listening during class or at work. They tend to lose things that are essential for their work or activities, such as keys, wallets and tools. They may also have trouble staying focused during long lectures or reading assignments. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, texting or talking excessively or squirming in their seats.

In determining if someone suffers from adult ADHD it is essential to exclude other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like depression, anxiety bipolar disorder, depression and abuse of substances. Stress and physical ailments like thyroid issues can be a source of ADHD symptoms. The DSM-5 now requires professionals to determine the severity of the symptoms a person's experiences are before identifying him or her with the condition. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.

Many people with ADHD live their entire lives without ever receiving a diagnosis because it's not obvious in the early years. A diagnosis can alter the course of an adult's life, as they can now see why they struggled at school and failed to reach their full potential at work or at home. Some may even feel guilty for blaming their problems on themselves or others and can feel regret over missed opportunities that could have been had if they had been properly treated.

Treatment

The first step in obtaining treatment for ADHD as an adult is to visit the healthcare professional to get an assessment. This can be done in person or by video calls. Only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The doctor will inquire about your medical history, including mental health issues within the family. This is due to the fact that there are a variety of mental and physical ailments which can trigger symptoms similar where to get adhd diagnosis ADHD. These conditions must be eliminated in order to establish a diagnosis.

The expert will inquire about your job and lifestyle as well as how your symptoms impact your daily life. They will be particularly interested in whether you showed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12. They might also interview people who were close to you in your childhood and ask about their memories.

A detailed medical history can aid your doctor in determining whether you require medication or other treatment. Certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders and lead poisoning can trigger ADHD symptoms. Adults who have an underlying history of anxiety or depression might require more careful evaluation and treatment, because these conditions are often associated with ADHD.

If a professional believes that you need medication, they will prescribe the right medication. The type of medication you need will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. The most commonly used medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. However, they're not right for everyone and the first one you try may not be effective or trigger uncomfortable side effects. Your doctor will need to know if use any other medication that are not prescription drugs, such as over-the counter ones and supplements, because certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.

Counseling is a crucial component of treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope better with feelings of anger, failure and underachievement that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can help you learn to control your anger, as well as improve your time management and organizational skills.

If you suffer from a mental illness, it's important to find a doctor who is specialized in the field. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD. However, you may prefer to consult a specialist psychotherapist. These professionals will likely be more familiar with adults with ADHD and the challenges they face and also have worked with other clients. You can contact your local mental health service or ADDitude's directory to find a professional who is working with adults suffering from ADHD.

Medication

A diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you're struggling to achieve your maximum potential in your work or in maintaining relationships, or have trouble completing tasks at home, an ADHD diagnosis may be just what you need.

The first step in treating ADHD for adults is thorough medical history review, which includes your symptoms. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines if you meet the criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. 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 with untreated adhd diagnosis for adults are frequently co-morbid with other disorders, like anxiety and depression. These disorders can trigger or worsen the symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He says that anxiety and frustration resulting from inadequate performance can trigger feelings of low-self-esteem. "Getting diagnosed can help them get a better understanding of the reasons behind their struggles. This may reduce or eliminate their anxieties and help them concentrate more productively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa states.

Adults with ADHD are usually treated with a combination of medications along with behavior therapy. Stimulants can improve concentration, decrease impulsive behaviors and help with organization. These drugs can improve moods and increase motivation in many cases. Some of the side effects of stimulants include sleepiness and having trouble drinking or eating enough. Mood swings can also occur in people who are taking stimulants for ADHD and are often difficult to manage.

Consult your physician about whether or not you're a candidate for clinical trials of new medications or treatments. These studies aid researchers in discovering better methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.

Counseling

If you have untreated ADHD, it can cause many issues in every area of your life. Procrastination and other symptoms can negatively impact your relationships, career, and financial health. The first step to reduce the negative effects and getting control back is to obtain an assessment and seek treatment.

Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD weren't diagnosed as children, either because their family and teachers were unaware of the condition or they displayed mild symptoms which were not noticed. Some might have had the ability to manage their symptoms as children but struggled as they grew older as their family and work obligations increased.

To be diagnosed as having ADHD, mental health professionals must find that your symptoms are causing severe impairment in at least two areas of your life. Impaired can be losing your job due to a decline in focus and organization skills, or being placed on academic probation at college due to your inability to study for tests.

Women are better at hiding symptoms than men. This makes it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. If, however, you are struggling with ADHD symptoms that are affecting your life at work and at home, being forthright about them with your doctor will help accelerate the process and enable you to take advantage of reasonable accommodations under the ADA and other workplace laws.

Whatever type of ADHD you have the mental health professional will want to determine if your symptoms were present prior to the age of 12. They may suggest that you speak to people who were close to you at the time, and they may also conduct a series of tests to assess your memory and attention.

After you are given a diagnosis the therapist will suggest a combination of medication and non-medication therapies to help manage your symptoms. The majority of people will test different therapies before they can find the one that works for them. It is recommended to keep track of your progress and consult with your physician regularly so that they can assist in adjusting your treatment program as needed.