ADHD Diagnosis For Adults
Many adults struggle to receive an ADHD diagnosis because doctors use a different set of guidelines for treating the disorder than they do for children and teens. The diagnosis requires at least five symptoms that fall within the categories of inattention, hyperactivity and the tendency to be impulsive.
Professionals who conduct an assessment will ask you questions about your childhood, education work, family, and history. They may also talk to your spouse or other family members.
What is ADHD?
Whether you keep losing your keys, have trouble with work or school, or have trouble staying engaged in conversations, getting 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. Professor of Psychology at the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine in Long Island, New York.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5), provides guidelines for providers to diagnose ADHD. 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.
An ADHD evaluation usually begins with a face-to-face interview with your doctor who will go over your symptoms and the impact they have on your daily life. It's helpful to bring report cards or other information from your childhood to aid the doctor in gaining more information about your past experiences with ADHD. Your provider may ask to speak to a close partner, spouse, family member, or a coworker who knows you well. They might inquire about your relationship, how they observe your behavior and how it affects your life. They could also inquire what ADHD symptoms interact with other conditions, like depression or an anxiety disorder.
The interview may include questions about your lifestyle, such as how often you forget to pay your bills or go to appointments, or if you have trouble with time management or organizational abilities. It's important to be honest in your answers and consider how these habits affect your daily routine. Ask your healthcare provider for a referral to another specialist or therapist if are unsure about the symptoms. Self-tests and rating systems are available online, but these are not as reliable as an interview conducted by a qualified professional. Certain tests may even lead to the wrong diagnosis, so it's best to speak with your healthcare provider first.
Signs and symptoms
Speak to your primary healthcare provider if suspect you may have ADHD. He or she may refer you to a mental health professional, such as psychiatrist or psychologist, for evaluation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision DSM-5 offers guidelines for clinical care for diagnosing mental disorders. It's important to provide as much detail about your symptoms as you can so that your physician can make a precise diagnosis.
The person who conducts the evaluation will review your medical, psychological, and psychiatric history, including past problems and ask how the symptoms affect your life. The person conducting the evaluation will also interview your children, spouse teachers, colleagues, and other people who know you well. get diagnosed with adhd may include neuropsychological, behavioral or learning disability testing. These tests can provide your provider with additional information about your ADHD symptoms and help determine if other conditions are causing 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 signs of a person who is inattention-deficient are a lack of attention and omitting important details or making mistakes. The person who is conducting the assessment will also assess how these symptoms impact work, school and social interactions. 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 usually manifest in the early years of childhood. They can also develop in later life. Adults may notice their own ADHD symptoms when their children are diagnosed or after an event in their lives such as getting married, a job or moving into their own home. In other instances the disorder is not diagnosed until the adult experiences significant problems at work or in their relationships. This could mean being fired, having financial problems, or being in trouble with the law.
Diagnosis
A screening is the first step you should take in the event that you suspect you might are suffering from ADHD. A qualified mental health professional will meet with you and discuss your symptoms as well as your medical history, and family history. Interview questions could be asked about your school and work performance, and how the symptoms affect your life at home and with your relationships. You might want to bring along copies of your report cards, teacher comments, and any other documentation relevant.
The psychiatric practitioner employs the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to determine the diagnosis. For a diagnosis of ADHD, the symptoms must be present for at least six months, and they must interfere with functioning or development in more than one environment, such as at school or at home. Additionally, the symptoms cannot be explained better by another mental disorder like an anxiety or mood disorder.
Many people suffering from ADHD have problems well into adulthood. The symptoms of ADHD can be detrimental to the way you work and at school. They can also lead to poor health or financial issues, and strain relationships. Diagnosed and treated, you can make a difference in your quality of life.
Certain symptoms of ADHD alter with age, for example inattentive symptoms may become more evident as you age, and impulsivity and hyperactivity could decrease with age. Other factors can also cause problems. For instance sleep apnea, also known as obstructive, is more common among adults with ADHD. Poor sleep habits can also cause ADHD symptoms.
People with ADHD often suffer from co-occurring illnesses like anxiety, depression bipolar disorder, and other learning disabilities. Sometimes, treating the underlying disorder can eliminate ADHD symptoms. It is essential to inform your mental health professional that you suffer from any other condition. This can affect the effectiveness of treatment.
It is essential to talk to your primary doctor who can refer you to a health professional trained in ADHD assessments for adults. Find out if there are support groups for adults suffering from ADHD in your area. They can provide resources and a list of specialties of professionals. You can also reach out to the insurance company that you have to determine which health care providers are covered under your policy.
Treatment
A thorough assessment by a health professional is the best way to diagnose adult ADHD. The evaluation should include questions regarding your childhood, as well as questions about your life now and screening for ADHD symptoms. You might be asked if your ADHD symptoms have caused you to have problems at work, in school or in your relationships.
Counseling and medication are two of the many options available for adults with ADHD. Psychotherapy can be a part of counseling, also known as talk therapy, and cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders. These therapies help you learn how to manage your symptoms and how to change negative thought patterns to positive ones. They can also help in the treatment of other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, that often occur in conjunction with ADHD.
Psychostimulants like dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate are often employed to treat adults suffering from ADHD. These drugs affect the way certain chemicals in the brain communicate to regulate behavior. Your doctor will recommend a medication that fits your body and symptoms and alters the dosage and frequency as required. There are also nonstimulants available, which do not have the same brain pathways like psychostimulants, and they can be beneficial for people with ADHD. Nonstimulant drugs include atomoxetine Guanfacine and guanfacine.
Other treatment options for adults with ADHD could include mentoring or coaching to teach strategies and coping techniques. For instance, you may learn how to use a planner or keep a journal or taught strategies to improve your time management. You may also benefit from changing your lifestyle to accommodate your ADHD symptoms, like working from home rather than in a workplace, using smartphone apps to monitor your tasks or scheduling appointments at times that are less busy. You might also want to inquire about participating in an clinical study that is a research endeavor designed to explore new methods to treat illnesses and conditions. (NIMH offers information about clinical trials.
Sometimes, your family physician will recommend you to a mental health specialist or other health care professional for an evaluation of your ADHD. You can ask a family member or family member for recommendations or contact an local ADHD support group.
