Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives may benefit from a diagnosis of ADHD. A diagnosis is based on a thorough examination which may include a review of school records and questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.
It is not unusual for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. See NIMH for suggestions on talking to your health care provider about the disorder.
Diagnosis
It is essential to be diagnosed with ADHD as you reach adulthood. This will allow you to get control of the symptoms that can cause a lot of trouble in your professional and personal life. The first step is to consult your GP or a mental health professional who has experience treating adults with ADHD. If your GP isn't familiar with ADHD or other disorders, they might refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment.
Typically an expert in mental health will use the six-question ADHD screener to determine whether you might have the disorder, says Adler. The doctor will ask you questions about your ADHD-like symptoms and review your medical history and family history to confirm that other conditions aren't contributing to them.
Because people with ADHD are more likely to miss details and get easily distracted, they frequently struggle with following directions or listening during class or on the job. They often lose things essential to their tasks or activities, such as tools, wallets, keys and wallets. They may also have trouble staying focused while reading or listening to long speeches. Fidgeting, excessive talk or texting or squirming are other symptoms of adult ADHD.
It is crucial to rule other conditions out in determining if a person has adult ADHD. This includes anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical ailments such as thyroid issues can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD. In the DSM-5, professionals are now required to consider the severity of a person's symptoms when determining if they are suffering from ADHD. Mild, moderate and severe are the categories used to describe adult ADHD.
Many people who suffer from ADHD do not receive a diagnosis in their childhood because it's not obvious. A diagnosis can alter the course of a person's life as they understand why they struggled at school and never reached their full potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty about blaming others or themselves for their troubles and could be resentful over missed opportunities when they were treated with respect.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to visit the healthcare professional to get an assessment. This can be accomplished in person or by video conference. In the UK, only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The professional will require information about your medical history and your family's mental health issues. This is because many physical and emotional conditions can cause symptoms similar to those of ADHD and need to be eliminated before an assessment can be made.
The expert will inquire about your work and lifestyle as well as how your symptoms impact your life. They will be particularly interested in whether you displayed signs of ADHD before the age of 12. They may also wish to interview people who were close to you as a child and ask them about their experiences.
A thorough medical history can aid the doctor in determining if you need medications or other treatments. Some medical conditions such as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, and lead poisoning, can cause ADHD symptoms. Adults with a history anxiety or depression will require evaluation and treated with more care since these conditions can coexist.
If a medical professional believes you require medication, they will prescribe the appropriate drug. The type of medication you need will depend on your symptoms and the way they affect your life. Stimulants, which are the most popular medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. However, they are not suitable for everyone and the first stimulant you try might not be effective or cause unpleasant adverse side effects. Your healthcare provider will need to know if take any other medications that are not prescription drugs, such as over-the counter ones and supplements, as certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial part of the treatment process for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you to cope better with feelings of anger, disappointment and inadequacy that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can also teach you to manage your anger and improve your organization and time management abilities.
It's important to seek out a healthcare professional that specializes in mental disorders. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to consult a specialist therapist or psychologist. These specialists are likely to be more familiar with the challenges of treating adult ADHD and have had experience in helping others who have similar issues. You can search ADDitude or contact your local mental health clinic to find a professional who is working with adults who suffer from ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the first step to managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you're struggling to achieve your full potential at work or in maintaining relationships, or are having trouble completing tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis might be just what you require.
The first step in treating ADHD in adults is a thorough medical history review, which includes your symptoms. The psychiatrist or psychologist determines if you satisfy the criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), 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 co-morbid with disorders such as depression and anxiety. These disorders can trigger or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He also says that constant stress and anger due to low performance can cause feelings of low-self-esteem. "Getting an assessment will help them understand the root of their issues. This may alleviate or eliminate their anxiety and help them concentrate more productively on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults with ADHD are typically treated with a combination of medications along with behavior therapy. Stimulants improve concentration, reduce the risk of impulsive behavior, and help with organizing. In many instances, these medications can also boost motivation and improve mood. People who take stimulants should be aware of possible adverse effects, such as insomnia and difficulty drinking or eating enough. Certain people who use stimulants to treat ADHD can experience mood swings that can be difficult for them to manage.
Consult your physician about whether or not you're a candidate for clinical trials of new medicines or treatments. These studies assist researchers in finding better ways to prevent, diagnose or treat illnesses and conditions.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause problems in all aspects of your life. Your relationships, work and financial health can be negatively impacted by procrastination or poor time management, excessive spending and other symptoms. Getting how to get an adhd diagnosis uk and seeking treatment is the first step towards lessening the negative effects and regaining control over your life.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD did not receive a diagnosis when they were children because their family and teachers were unaware of the disorder or they experienced mild symptoms that were not noticed. Certain adults may have been able manage their symptoms as children, but struggled with them in adulthood due to the increased demands of work and family.
To determine ADHD Mental health professionals need to find that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in two areas of your daily life. Impairment can result in losing your job due to of lack of concentration and organizational skills, or being put on academic probation at college due to the inability to study for tests.
Women are more adept at hiding symptoms than men. This makes it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. However, if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms that affect your work and home life, being forthright about them with your doctor can accelerate the process and enable you to take advantage of reasonable accommodations under the ADA and other workplace laws.
Regardless of the kind of ADHD you have, your mental health professional will want to verify that your symptoms were present before age 12. They may request that you talk with people who knew you at this time period. They may also conduct a series of tests to determine your attention and memory levels.
When you receive the diagnosis your therapist will recommend the use of a combination of medication and non-medication therapies to help manage your symptoms. A majority of patients will try a variety of different therapies before they can find the one that works for them. Keep a record of your progress and consult your physician regularly to alter your treatment plan as necessary.