ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists or neurologists, or family physicians) must be able to diagnose ADHD. The symptoms are measured using standardized behavior rating scales that are developed from research that compares the behaviors of people who have and those without ADHD.
Medical examinations are also performed as certain medical conditions such as seizures or thyroid issues could mimic ADHD symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
The majority of people seeking an assessment for ADHD say their symptoms interfere with their lives. They might have trouble keeping a job, maintain healthy relationships or keeping up with household chores. Additionally, they might suffer from anxiety and mood disorders or have problems with substance use. To determine if you are suffering from a disorder first, you should arrange an appointment with a health care provider. Your physician may recommend an expert in mental health who is qualified to conduct ADHD evaluations for adults. You can also ask a local university-based hospital or medical school for recommendations. Some insurance plans provide professionals by specialization.
During diagnosing adhd , a mental health professional will go over your medical and personal history and then examine you to determine if you fit any of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association contains these criteria. The doctor will be looking for hyperactivity or impulsivity as well as inattention. Inattention symptoms include difficulty paying attention to what other people are saying or doing or not following instructions and not paying attention to particulars. Those with ADHD are often distracted and have difficulty completing tasks, particularly when they aren't interested in them.
People who suffer from hyperactivity and impulsive symptoms may run around and climb up places they shouldn't, disrupt conversations and games, or take over toys of other children, sports equipment or homework assignments. They are unable to wait for their turn or to play quietly. They are often asked questions before the questioner has finished thinking, or they cannot wait to speak in a social setting at school, at work. They may have trouble waiting for help, or spending money. They also often miss appointments.
A thorough mental health assessment is important before diagnosing ADHD, because many conditions can mimic the symptoms of the disorder, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and certain medications and head injuries. A psychiatric assessment usually includes a structured interview which focuses on your social, academic and emotional life. It could also include family and friend interviews. Your mental health practitioner may conduct psychological tests to measure your visual memory and spatial abilities as well as executive functioning and working memory.
Diagnosis
It can be a life-changing experience for adults to receive an ADHD diagnosis. It can provide a valid reason for the frustrations that they experience every day: work problems or issues in establishing relationships, conflict in relationships or a lack financial stability. It can also help to clarify the reasons why they were deemed unreliable or lazy as children.
The symptoms of ADHD in adults can change with time, making it harder to diagnose than in children. To be diagnosed with the disorder, doctors must apply the guidelines laid out by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to determine whether or not someone is in compliance with the criteria. This requires a thorough assessment that may include symptom checklists and standardized scales for assessing behavior, and interviews with significant other people such as parents or spouses and teachers.
In addition to a thorough interview, some practitioners require patients to take questionnaires or psychological tests to measure working memory, executive functions (such as decision-making, planning and spatial and vision abilities) and reasoning (thinking). Based on the individual doctor's needs, some doctors might request a brain scan or conduct additional clinical lab tests, like physical exams or blood tests.
It's crucial that a clinician examines the possibility of co-occurring disorders that could mimic ADHD. These could include mood disorders or learning issues, head injuries, or addiction to drugs (Austerman 2015). During an evaluation, a clinician may also talk to the patient's family and acquaintances to learn more about the condition.
Many people who suffer from ADHD forget about events from their childhood, especially when they're suffering from emotional distress. This is why it's common for physicians to ask patients' parents or other close family members to complete a retrospective ADHD profile of the child's behaviors and school performance.
Some patients are hesitant to seek out a diagnosis because they don't think their issues are that serious. For those living with undiagnosed ADHD, the consequences of a missed or delayed diagnosis can be devastating.
Treatment
The first step to finding treatment for adults suffering from ADHD is to receive a diagnosis. The majority of people suffering from ADHD will start by speaking with their primary care provider, who can refer them to an expert in mental health.
A psychiatric assessment typically includes a description and discussion of symptoms, interviews of the patient and other sources like spouses and family members, completions of ADHD symptoms lists and standardized behavior scales and psychometric tests like tests for intelligence and learning disabilities. It's also important to rule out other medical conditions that can mimic ADHD symptoms, like thyroid disorders and seizure disorder.
The stigma associated with adhd is often the most difficult part of the diagnosis for adults. It's not uncommon for a person who suffers from untreated ADHD to feel like a failure especially in areas such as work and relationships. Receiving a diagnosis can help them understand what's happening and recognize that it's not their fault, said research psychologist Karla Pretorius, M. Psych, who specializes in ADHD in adults.
It is also beneficial to discuss your symptoms with co-workers, teachers and supervisors. The process of educating them about ADHD can help them understand your difficulties and help you make small accommodations to enable you to succeed, such as giving you more time to finish your assignments or providing a quiet area to study. In a lot of cases, you'll find that co-workers and instructors are more knowledgeable than you have imagined.
Speak to your doctor about participating in a trial if are interested in a medication for ADHD. These trials are designed to test new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions and diseases. You will have access to the latest therapies and treatments before they become widely available.
The use of medications for ADHD can help you improve your ability to focus, follow directions and control the impulsive behavior. But, it's important to use medications in conjunction with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can help you develop coping skills, help you develop healthy habits and to manage your feelings of discontent and guilt over past failures. It can help you to understand how your ADHD affects the dynamics of your family and relationships.
Counseling
For many adults, getting the diagnosis of ADHD can be a transformative experience. Many people have had to deal with impulsive, disorganized or inattentional behaviors for a long time before they realized why. A diagnosis allows them to understand that their difficulties are not due to being unlucky or failing.
The first step to get a diagnosis is an interview with an expert in mental health. During the interview, the patient is asked about their issues and how they affect their lives professionally and personally. The physician will also want to learn about the history of the patient particularly from childhood. This may include asking about previous diagnoses or mental health issues. It is helpful to have a close family member or friend accompany you during the interview. They can help you remember details.
In the course of the evaluation during the evaluation, the individual will be asked to complete psychological tests that measure their executive functioning, working memory spatial and visual skills and reasoning skills. It is essential to answer all of the questions in a complete and honest manner to ensure that a complete picture of a person's abilities can be gathered. During the interview, it is essential to not hold back information because of shame or embarrassment.
In order to receive a diagnosis, a person must have symptoms of ADHD that result in significant impairment in at least two or more environments. ADHD symptoms can cause someone to have difficulty at work or school and may even be a victim of problems with relationships.
Counseling can help people who have been diagnosed with ADHD to discover how to manage their symptoms and develop strategies to succeed at school, at work and in relationships. This includes individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and learning how to manage impulsive and inattentive behaviors. It is also recommended that individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD get married and family counseling to deal with the issues that may arise as a result of their symptoms.
Other kinds of counseling that are useful for people with ADHD are OT (occupational therapy) and yoga practices, which combine the physical benefits of exercise with the psychological benefits of meditation. OT can help those with ADHD establish routines and a structure, whereas yoga teaches breathing and relaxation techniques to improve mental acuity.