How is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
For adults, the diagnosis of ADHD requires an expert in health care or mental health professional to conduct an extensive assessment. This could include interviews with the patient and close friends or coworkers.
In addition the person being assessed might be required to fill out questionnaires and write up their thoughts regarding childhood behavior. A comprehensive evaluation will include a screening for ADHD symptoms and an array of psychological tests.
Signs and symptoms
Many people with ADHD are diagnosed only when the symptoms are more apparent in their daily life. It is essential to recognize the signs so that you can talk with a health care professional regarding your concerns. The evaluator will ask about your history of symptoms, particularly when you were a kid, since current guidelines state that a diagnosis can't be established without proof that the symptoms occurred before age 12.
For example, do you often forget appointments or miss deadlines? Are you having trouble keeping the financial records or other obligations? Are you impulsive and do you make quick decisions that could cause trouble with family members, friends, and co-workers. These behaviors may be an indication of ADHD. This can make it difficult to maintain a career and manage relationships. Fortunately, treatment can reduce the severity of these symptoms which will allow you to achieve your goals in both professional and personal life.
Adults may experience symptoms similar to children, but may differ slightly in the way they function at work and in their social lives. They vary from mild to severe with moderate symptoms causing noticeable changes in your performance. In severe instances, these symptoms could result in problems with relationships and finances and also difficulties at work or at school.
If you suspect you may have ADHD, you should first talk to your primary care physician for an appointment with a specialist in mental health who will perform an evaluation. You can also request a list from your health insurance provider of professionals who evaluate ADHD or other disorders. A support group for ADHD is also a good resource. Members may have suggestions for professionals in this area.
In addition to asking you questions about your symptoms, the evaluator will review your medical and psychiatric history, prepare a list of questions you have asked, and request that other people (such as parents, teachers, spouses or close friends) who know you well complete questionnaires and surveys. The evaluator might also decide to conduct a physical exam and psycho-neuropsychological, neuropsychological or testing for learning disabilities should it be necessary.
Diagnosis
If ADHD symptoms affect daily life for an adult, they could need a consultation with an primary care physician or a mental health professional. The examiner will review the person's medical and psychiatric history, talk to the person about their symptoms, use checklists or scales to assess symptoms related to ADHD and complete psychological tests to assess working memory and executive functions (abilities that involve the ability to plan and make decisions) as well as spatial and visual ability. Psychological or neuropsychological tests may also be used to determine if a condition that is co-existing is causing the person's symptoms.
During the assessment during the assessment, the evaluator requests the person to describe their symptoms and any problems they are experiencing at home, in school or at work. It is essential that the person being evaluated is honest and not holds back information due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. The assessor may also speak with the person’s partner as well as close family members and friends. This will help in gaining a better understanding of the issues the person is facing and how they affect their relationships.
The examiner will look for symptoms in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5) to determine ADHD. This includes difficulty paying attention or making careless errors, difficulties staying focused on tasks or other activities and issues with following directions, finishing schoolwork, chores and job duties. The evaluator will also ask about the person's childhood and family history of ADHD.
If the evaluation finds that the person has ADHD and they determine that the person has ADHD, they will refer them to a specialist who will offer solutions. Because adults may have poor or spotty memories of childhood experiences as well as mental health evaluations, the person who is being evaluated may have to have his or her parents or significant others fill out retrospective ADHD profiles. This will enable the evaluator to confirm childhood ADHD symptoms and diagnosis ADHD as a present disorder. Certain people suffering from ADHD may also have co-occurring disorders like addiction to substances, depression and anxiety. These other conditions will need to be treated to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD.
Treatment
Get help if you're having difficulty completing tasks at work or home or if you suffer from inattention or impulsive behavior. Seek a mental health professional who has special training in working with adults with ADHD, or an primary care physician. Ask your family and friends for recommendations or look for professionals in your area on the internet. Read reviews about professionals before you visit them, and ensure that your insurance policy covers the cost.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have symptoms that occur more than once a week and cause significant impairment in several areas of your life. Troublesome issues include losing your job, having financial difficulties because of the impulse to spend or failing classes in school, marital problems or problems with relationships with family or 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 the presence of adult ADHD includes a description of your symptoms, a completion of questionnaires and scales you and your caregivers and teachers, and a thorough medical and mental health history.
Adults with ADHD can be treated in different ways, such as through psychotherapy and medication. Behavioral therapy is a method that helps you control and modify your behavior. It can also teach you ways to improve your problem-solving and organization skills. Psychotherapy can help you identify the negative thinking patterns that lead to ADHD and the relationship you have with it.
Psychotherapy is helpful in managing ADHD and also dealing with anxiety or depression. Counseling for your family and marriage can also be useful particularly when your children or spouse suffer from ADHD and face the same issues that you have.
Adults suffering from ADHD are best treated by combining treatments. Talking to your GP is the first step. He can refer you to a service that will be right for you. Your GP will be able to tell you if an assessment for ADHD is the right thing to do.
Support
Support groups can be beneficial to people with ADHD. They can learn from others and share their experiences. These groups provide not only emotional support but also instruct individuals on ADHD treatments, and strategies for coping. Individuals with ADHD may also find it beneficial to seek professional help in managing their symptoms. Certain professionals provide services for adults suffering from ADHD, while others may provide general therapy sessions.
Talk therapy can help manage ADHD symptoms. Therapists can help patients improve their self-esteem and assist them to find strategies to manage stress and anger. Some therapy providers specialize in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which is a method which focuses on changing the way people think and behave.
Adults suffering from ADHD have challenges that they didn't face as children, like relationship conflicts, financial problems and academic issues. Individual therapy can help people overcome negative emotions such as shame and embarrassment.
To be diagnosed with ADHD the person must demonstrate significant impairment in at minimum two situations. This may include failing at work, a high level of conflict and stress in relationships or being in trouble due to reckless driving or impulsive spending. adhd diagnosis adult underlying causes behind the impairment must be examined, as well, like medical conditions, drug and alcohol use, or other mental health issues.
During 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 assessments. They may also take part in behavior rating scales or symptoms checklists, and conduct psychological tests that look at the person's cognitive processes, such as memory and decision-making. They might also consider medical, educational, and family history to rule out any other causes for the symptoms.
During the examination it is crucial to be as honest and open as you are able. The therapist can determine if the person is taking steps to manage their symptoms, like keeping regular sleep schedules or removing foods that could cause them to worsen.