ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
Many adults are unable to get an ADHD diagnosis, as doctors follow different guidelines for diagnosing the disorder than they do for adolescents and children. The diagnosis requires at minimum five signs from the categories of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.
The professionals conducting the evaluation will ask you questions about your childhood, work and academic life, your alcohol and drug usage, and family history. They might also want to speak with your spouse or friend.
What is ADHD?
If you're constantly losing your keys, have difficulty with work or school or are having trouble staying focused during conversations, obtaining an ADHD diagnosis as an adult can be a great relief. You're not crazy, and you can deal with it better, says Mary V. Solanto Ph.D. a professor of psychology at the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine in Long Island, New York.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5) offers the guidelines that doctors and specialists use to determine an ADHD diagnosis. Adults need to meet a lower threshold of symptoms than children -- 5 out of 9 over the past 6 months -- to be diagnosed with either inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, or a combination.
A face-to-face appointment with your healthcare professional is typically the first step in an ADHD evaluation. They will discuss your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. It is helpful to bring reports cards or other documents from your childhood to aid the doctor in gaining more information about your experience with ADHD. Your doctor may also request to talk to your spouse, family member, co-worker or a close friend who know you well. They may ask about your relationship, how they observe your behavior and how it affects your life. They might also inquire how ADHD symptoms are interacted with other conditions, like anxiety or depression.
You will be asked about your lifestyle during the interview, and this includes how often you don't make appointments or pay bills or if you're having difficulty with time management. It is important to be truthful in your answers and take note of how these behaviors affect your daily life. Ask your healthcare professional for a referral to another practitioner or therapist if aren't sure about your symptoms. Self-tests and rating systems are accessible on the internet, however they're not as reliable as an interview conducted by a trained professional. Some of these tests might result in a wrong diagnosis, so it is recommended to always consult your healthcare provider prior to using them.
Symptoms
Talk to your primary healthcare provider if you think you might have ADHD. He or she may refer you to an expert in mental health like psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct an evaluation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5 provides guidelines for clinicians for diagnosing mental disorders. It is essential to provide your doctor as much detail as you can about your symptoms so they can make an accurate diagnosis.
The person who conducts the evaluation will review your medical, psychological and psychiatric background, including past issues and ask you about how the symptoms affect your life. The person conducting the evaluation may also interview your children and spouse as well as coworkers, teachers and other people who know you. Your test may include neuropsychological, behavioral, or learning disability testing. These tests will provide your doctor with additional information about your ADHD symptoms and can help rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
In addition to evaluating your current symptoms, the professional will determine whether you have predominantly inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined type ADHD. To receive a diagnosis, you must show that you have at least six of the nine symptoms for either the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive presentation.
The symptoms of the primarily inattentional type include trouble paying attention, ignoring important details or making erroneous mistakes. The person who evaluates the child will also determine how these symptoms affect school, work and even personal life. The impulsive/hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD include fidgeting, difficulty sitting still or squirming in the chair, excessive talking and interrupting others, frequent blurting out answers before questions are finished and difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
These symptoms often appear in the early years of childhood. They may also manifest in later life. Adults may notice their own ADHD symptoms when their children are diagnosed, or after an event in their lives such as a job, marriage or moving into their own home. In some instances, the condition is not recognized until a person has serious issues at work or with their relationships. This can include being fired, having financial problems, or being in trouble with the law.
Diagnosis
A screening is the first thing you should do when you suspect that you may have ADHD. A licensed mental health professional will interview you and reviews your symptoms, medical background and family history. The interview could also include questions about work and school performance and how the symptoms affect your life at home and in your relationships. You may be required to bring a copy of your report cards, teacher comments and any other information that could be relevant.
The psychiatric professional will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to assist to determine the diagnosis. To qualify for the diagnosis of ADHD, the symptoms must be present for at minimum six months and be interfering with the development or functioning of more than one setting for example, at school or at home. Additionally, the symptoms must not be better explained by a mental disorder that is not related to ADHD like a mood disorder or anxiety disorder.
Many people with ADHD are still struggling throughout their lives. The symptoms of ADHD can affect the way you work and at school. They can also cause poor health or financial issues, and strain relationships. If you are diagnosed and treated, you can enjoy your life.
Some ADHD symptoms change with age. For instance, inattention may become more apparent as you age and hyperactivity and impulse control may decrease with age. Other factors can contribute to difficulties like obstructive sleeping apnea occurs more often in people with ADHD and poor sleeping habits are known to worsen ADHD symptoms.
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from co-occurring illnesses like anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and learning disabilities. Sometimes, treating the underlying condition can eliminate the symptoms of ADHD. It is essential to inform your mental health professional that you suffer from any other condition. This can have an impact on the effectiveness of treatment.
It is essential to consult your primary physician who can refer you to an expert in ADHD assessments for adults. It is also an excellent idea to inquire if there exist any support groups for adults suffering from ADHD in your region. They can offer information and a list of professionals by specialty. You can also contact your insurance company to inquire about health care providers who are covered by your policy.
Treatment
A thorough evaluation by a medical professional is the best method to determine if you suffer from adult ADHD. The evaluation should include questions about your childhood, as well as questions about your life now and a check for ADHD symptoms. You could be asked about any problems that your ADHD symptoms cause at school, at work or in your relationships.
Counseling and medication are two of the many treatments available for adults with ADHD. Counseling is a combination of psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) and cognitive behavioral therapy. These therapies teach you how to manage your symptoms, and how to change negative thought patterns into positive ones. They can also help in the treatment of other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which frequently co-occur with ADHD.
Medication for adults with ADHD usually involves psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). These medications affect how certain chemicals in the brain communicate to regulate behavior. Your doctor will choose a medication that is appropriate for your body and symptoms and alters the dosage and frequency when needed. Nonstimulants are also available, which do not act on the same brain pathways that psychostimulants do and can be beneficial for people with ADHD. undiagnosed adhd in adults of nonstimulant drugs include atomoxetine and guanfacine.
Coaching or mentoring may be used to teach people with ADHD strategies and coping strategies. For instance, you could learn how to keep a planner in place or a journal or given strategies for improving your time management. You can also benefit from adjusting your living situation to accommodate your ADHD symptoms, such as working from home instead of at a office, using smartphone apps to track tasks or scheduling appointments at times that aren't as busy. You may also want to inquire about joining a clinical study, which is a research endeavor designed to explore new methods to treat illnesses and conditions. (NIMH has information about clinical trials.)
You could be referred a mental specialist or another health specialist by your family doctor to assess your ADHD. You may also ask your family member or friend for recommendations, or contact a local support group for people suffering from ADHD.