ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
People suffering from ADHD may experience symptoms similar to depression or anxiety. This is why a thorough evaluation by a health care provider or mental health professional is essential.
Your doctor will ask you about your experiences from your childhood. You might also be asked to complete questionnaires or conduct interviews with teachers and other professionals who know you.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ADHD can make it difficult to manage daily tasks, including managing one's schedule and planning ahead. People with undiagnosed ADHD may have difficulty at work, have trouble maintaining their school schedules and also find that their relationships suffer because they tend to miss important dates or arrive late to events. They may also have difficulty keeping track of conversations or appear distracted by eyes that are glazed over.
The diagnosis of ADHD is determined by a thorough evaluation of the symptoms. They should have been present for at least six months and cause issues in a variety of areas of their lives. Adults with undiagnosed ADHD may not be aware of their problem, but frustrations in everyday life may prompt them to seek assistance. They might be unable to keep up with their work because they fail to meet important deadlines or cannot concentrate during meetings and lectures. Friendships can suffer when they don't follow through with plans or fail to listen to their friends and their family lives is often a mess due to their inability to stay on track on household chores.
A qualified professional can also conduct testing for neuropsychological disorders, or psychological disorders. Based on the individual's specific problems, these tests can provide valuable information on the ways in which ADHD affects the individual and can determine if comorbid conditions exist. For instance, anxiety may cause similar symptoms to ADHD and depression frequently occurs with ADHD.
It is important to select an expert who has prior experience treating adults with ADHD. Professionals who are certified include doctors, clinical psychologists or clinical social professionals. You can find a specialist by asking friends or colleagues for recommendations, but you should conduct some research and make sure that the expert is licensed and certified within the state you reside in. You can also look up the professional background of the doctor and request references of past patients or clients. These steps will help you find someone who can evaluate your child or yourself for ADHD. When a diagnosis is made it can be a huge relief to many adults. They can stop worrying that their failures are due to insanity or lack of intelligence and instead focus on learning how to manage their symptoms.
Diagnosis
It isn't easy for adults to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. Many symptoms of ADHD are attributed to other factors like stress or medical issues. Additionally, sex, gender, and race can all influence the likelihood that a person receives an accurate diagnosis. People of color and women are, for instance, likely to be diagnosed less frequently with the disorder than males and whites. As a result, some people who struggle with the symptoms of ADHD don't receive the help they require until later in their lives.
A mental health professional can confirm the ADHD diagnosis by conducting a comprehensive evaluation that looks at the person's behavior and history of symptoms over time. They will inquire about the symptoms and also talk to people who know about the person's symptoms. They may ask their spouse parents, friends or relatives of the person how the symptoms have affected their lives. The patient will be asked to fill out questionnaires, and may be tested with an array of tests, including a psychological assessment and an interview.
To be diagnosed, one must prove that at least five of the symptoms have been present for a minimum of 12 months, and that these symptoms are causing impairments in two areas of their lives like school, work or relationships. The person will need to have at least five persistent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity to qualify for a diagnosis. It is also essential for the professional to establish that these symptoms were present prior to the age of 12.
During the assessment the examiner will look over the patient's medical background and family history, as well as anxiety and mood disorders, as well as any other mental health issues and substance abuse and other physical ailments. It is not uncommon for these issues to coexist with ADHD.
It is essential to find a professional with expertise in treating adults with ADHD. Most professionals with experience will be willing to share information about their education and experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If a professional is unwilling to divulge this information, you should avoid working with them.
Treatment
As opposed to a child, the decision whether or not to tackle ADHD as an adult is entirely up to the individual. While the diagnosis can be daunting however, there are a variety of options for adults who wish to improve their performance and manage their symptoms.
Most health care providers use a comprehensive evaluation process to evaluate a patient's health. This may include a detailed description of the symptoms provided by the patient, his relatives, friends, and teachers. It may also include the completion of questionnaires and scales.
A doctor will apply diagnostic guidelines established by the American Psychiatric Association in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) that requires that a patient show at least five symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or an impulsive behavior. The symptoms must also be present prior to age 12. The evaluation will examine how the symptoms affect the person's daily life. Examples of impairment are losing a job due to problems in the workplace, excessive conflict and distress in relationships, not paying bills on time, being in financial trouble and not making enough academic progress in school.
A complete evaluation could include, in addition to the interview with a psychologist, psychological tests that measure working memory, executive function (abilities such as making decisions and planning), visual and spatial capacities, and reasoning skills. These tests can be conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist who is skilled in ADHD treatment.
For some individuals the use of behavioral therapy could help in reducing their symptoms. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps the patient strategies for managing his own behavior as well as improve confidence in himself. It can also instruct the person how to deal with the underlying issues that cause his symptoms worse.
A few people suffering from ADHD decide to participate in a clinical study, which is a type of research designed to test new ways to detect the presence of diseases, or to prevent or treat them. Talk to your healthcare doctor about the potential risks and benefits of taking part in a trial.
Counseling
Many people diagnosed with ADHD have lived with the disorder for a number of years. The stress of living with ADHD or an issue with their job or issues with relationships, could eventually cause one to realize that they require professional help. If you're an adult who's been diagnosed with ADHD and you're unable to get therapy from a therapist who specializes in the disorder or through a neurologist or psychiatrist who can prescribe medication for you. If you're unsure how to find these health care professionals, ask your primary care physician or contact the CHADD adhd diagnosis private organization CHADD for recommendations.
During an initial assessment, the mental health professional will interview you about your symptoms and how they impact your life. The therapist will also go over your medical history to determine whether physical or emotional problems could have contributed to the onset of your ADHD. They will then conduct an interview with you and your partner If applicable. It is essential that both spouses or partners take part in the test to gain a better understanding of their respective ADHD symptoms and their effects on their relationship.
The therapist will assess the symptoms you are experiencing by using the diagnostic criteria set forth by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). The therapist will determine if you have moderate, mild or severe ADHD. They will also discuss how your ADHD affects your work, social interactions and your home.
After assessing your health issues, the health professional will suggest different treatment options. These could include medication, lifestyle changes and therapy. Your doctor might suggest cognitive-behavioral treatments, which could boost your self-esteem and assist you in changing negative thinking patterns. They can also refer to brain training or neurofeedback which are non-pharmacological treatment methods that increase concentration and reduce impulses.
Online telehealth providers like Amwell can connect you to an expert in ADHD for assessments and medication management. Amwell has a relationship with more than 40insurance companies. It typically requires a copay or meets your deductible for out-of-pocket visits. Another option is Thriveworks, which offers online therapy and can also provide medication management.