Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult

Adults who have difficulty in their personal or professional lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A diagnosis is based on a thorough examination that may include reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by parents and teachers.

The majority of people with ADHD have symptoms since the age of three, and it's not unusual to be diagnosed in adulthood. See NIMH for advice on how to talk to your health care provider regarding the disorder.

Diagnosis

Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult diagnosis of adhd is usually the first step towards gaining control over the symptoms that cause havoc on one's professional and personal lives. The first step is to talk to your GP or consult an expert in mental health who has expertise in treating adults with ADHD. If your doctor does not have any knowledge of ADHD, they may recommend you to psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment.

A mental health professional would typically use a six question ADHD screener to determine if you suffer from the condition. Then, he or she will talk to you about your symptoms, and examine your family history and medical background to ensure that there are no other conditions not causing your ADHD-like symptoms.

People suffering from ADHD tend to be easily distracted and can miss important details. They often have difficulty following directions in class or at work. They frequently lose essential items for tasks or activities like keys, wallets and other tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused during long speeches or reading assignments. Fidgeting, excessive talk or texting, or squirming, are other symptoms of adult diagnosis of adhd ADHD.

It is important to rule out other conditions in determining if a person has adult ADHD. This includes depression, anxiety, and getting diagnosed with adhd as an Adult bipolar disorder. Stress and other physical ailments such as thyroid issues can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD. In the DSM-5 professionals are required to consider the severity of an individual's symptoms when diagnosing them with ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.

Many people with ADHD do not receive a diagnosis in childhood because it is not evident. A diagnosis can alter the course of a person's life because they now understand the reasons why they struggled in school and never reached their full potential at work or home. Some may even feel guilt-ridden for blaming their troubles on themselves or others and can feel grief over lost opportunities that could have been a reality when they were properly treated.

Treatment

The first step in obtaining treatment for ADHD as an adult is to consult the healthcare professional for an assessment. This can be done in person or via video call. In the UK only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will require information about your medical history and your family's mental health issues. This is due to the fact that there are many mental and physical ailments that could cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. These conditions need to be ruled out in order to determine if you have ADHD.

The professional will also ask about your work and lifestyle and how your issues affect your life. They will be particularly interested in whether you showed signs of ADHD before the age of 12 years old. They might also talk to people who were close to you as when you were a child and ask them about their experiences.

A thorough medical history will aid your doctor in determining if you need medication or any other treatment. Some medical conditions such as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, and lead poisoning, can cause ADHD symptoms. Adults who have a history of depression or anxiety will need to be assessed and treated with more care because these conditions frequently coexist.

If a doctor believes that you need medication they will prescribe a suitable medicine. The type of medication you will require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the way they impact your daily life. The most commonly used medication prescribed for ADHD are stimulants. They are not for all people and the first treatment you try might not be effective or cause undesirable side consequences. 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 medications can interfere with ADHD stimulants.

Counseling is also an important element of the 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 manage your anger, improve your time management and organizing abilities.

If you suffer from mental illness it is crucial to find a doctor who is specialized in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to consult psychologists or specialist therapists. These experts are likely to be more familiar with the challenges of treating adults with ADHD and have had experience in helping other clients with similar struggles. You can check with your local mental health clinic or with ADDitude's directory to find a specialist who can assist adults with ADHD.

Medication

If you're an adult who has had to deal with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder getting a diagnosis is the first step to managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you are struggling to reach your maximum potential in your work or in maintaining relationships, or are having difficulty completing tasks at home and at work, an ADHD diagnosis may be the answer you've been looking for.

ADHD treatment for adults starts with thorough interviews and a thorough review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've experienced. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines whether you meet the criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) which is 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 are often afflicted with disorders such as depression and anxiety. Jaksa says that these conditions can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD. Chronic stress and frustration over poor performance can also result in feelings of self-doubt, he says. "Getting a diagnose will help them understand the root of their issues. This could help alleviate or eliminate their anxiety, and allow them to focus on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.

The most effective treatment for adults with ADHD is typically a combination of behavior therapy and medication. Stimulants can improve concentration, decrease impulsive behaviors and aid in organizing. These drugs can improve moods and increase motivation in a variety of cases. People who are taking stimulants must be aware of the potential side effects, which include problems with sleeping and drinking or eating enough. Also, mood swings can occur in those who take stimulants to treat ADHD and are often difficult to manage.

Discuss with your doctor about whether you would be a good candidate for clinical trials of new treatments or drugs. These studies assist researchers in finding better ways to diagnose and treat or prevent diseases.

Counseling

Untreated ADHD can lead to problems in all areas of your life. The effects of procrastination, among others, can have a negative impact on your relationships and career as well as financial health. Getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step to lessening the negative effects and regaining control of your life.

Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD did not receive a diagnosis as children, because their teachers and family were unaware of the condition or they experienced mild symptoms that weren't recognized. Some adults may have been able to manage their symptoms as children but were unable to manage these issues in adulthood due increasing family and work obligations.

In order to be diagnosed as having ADHD mental health professionals must discover that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in at minimum two areas of your life. In the event of an impairment, you could lose your job due to a lack in focus and organization skills, or being placed on academic probation at college due to your inability to study for tests.

Women are more adept at avoiding symptoms than men. This makes it harder for women to be diagnosed. However, if you are struggling with ADHD symptoms that are affecting your life at work and at home speaking up with your doctor can help speed up the process and allow you to benefit from reasonable accommodations under ADA and other workplace laws.

Your mental health professional, regardless of the type of ADHD you suffer from, will be interested in knowing whether your symptoms started before the age of 12. They may ask to speak to people who were close to you at the time, and they might also administer a series tests to assess your memory and attention.

If you're given the diagnosis your therapist will recommend a combination of medications and non-medical treatments to treat your symptoms. Most people will try several different therapies before they can find the one that works for them. Keep a journal of your progress and consult your doctor frequently to modify your treatment plan as needed.