Adult ADHD Diagnosis Strategies That Will Change Your Life
Adult ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
If you suspect you suffer from ADHD, ask your primary physician for a referral. You can also seek suggestions from your family and friends or search the internet for experts who are qualified to conduct ADHD evaluations.
Professionals will inquire about your symptoms now but, based on current guidelines, it's impossible to determine the cause without taking into consideration your childhood experiences. Your doctor may interview your parents, teachers or other adults who were familiar with you as a young person.
Understanding Your Symptoms
Many people who suffer from ADHD do not realize they have it until they reach adulthood. They may not have been diagnosed until they were children and are struggling to deal with issues at the classroom, at work or at home. A diagnosis and treatment plan will help people restore their lives to order.
Adults with ADHD often have difficulty staying focused, planning or paying attention to details. They are more likely to make decisions on impulse and to become easily distracted. They might be unable to focus on tasks that are boring and often shift their focus from one task to another. This could lead to them missing important events as well as poor time management and frequent missteps at work or at school.
Adult adhd symptoms are different for each person. They tend to appear in childhood, but they can also show up as the adolescent years or even as adults. To be considered to have the disorder, the symptoms must have been present for at minimum six months and cause significant difficulties in multiple environments.
A doctor will examine your school report card to see whether there are any comments about your behavior or lack of effort. diagnosing adhd may also request to have the person being evaluated talk to his or her parents. Adults who are being evaluated by a professional for ADHD should be honest and open about their problems. They shouldn't be worried about embarrassing themselves or feeling embarrassed.
Women with ADHD can be overlooked or misdiagnosed since their symptoms are not so obvious as those of men. Their struggles are often concealed due to the demands of caring for children or by being in gender-specific roles. Signs of ADHD among women include forgetting or not paying attention to important tasks, not being able to finish work on time, making frequent mistakes and unable to concentrate at work or at school. They tend to be fidgety such as tapping their feet or moving their legs.
Adults with ADHD can still be successful in their personal and professional lives. They just need to learn to deal with their issues and utilize the support that is available. They can also use strategies that can assist them in their goals, such as the use of a planner or calendar, as well as phone apps that have reminders.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
It can be difficult to tell the distinction between adult ADHD and other problems that are commonplace, such as forgetting tasks or appointments. The difference is important, because if the disorder is not addressed, treated properly or not properly managed, it could result in serious issues with work and social relationships, including financial difficulties and difficult relationships.
A mental health professional with special training and experience treating ADHD can diagnose the condition. This can include psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and doctors (such as neurologists, psychiatrists or family physicians) who specialize in psychiatry or neurology. Qualified professionals are also familiar with co-existing disorders that typically occur in conjunction with ADHD, such as depression and anxiety.
A thorough evaluation to determine if a person has ADHD will require a thorough interview to review the patient's medical, personal and family background. The interview will include questions about how the patient's ADHD symptoms impact their relationships and work. It is important for the person to be honest and not hide any details.
It's also a good idea to bring up issues that the person might have faced at work or in their home life since the time of their childhood. In many cases, these can be indicators that the person is suffering from ADHD. For example, many people with ADHD change jobs frequently and have trouble forming close relationships. In addition, it is common for people with ADHD to have problems with managing money and spending more than they should.
In certain instances an assessment of adults with ADHD might include additional tests, like neuropsychological, psychological or learning disabilities tests to rule out other reasons for the problem. A person with ADHD could also have an underlying learning disorder, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia or dyscalculia. In these situations, accommodations--tools or changes in the environment that help manage a disability--may be helpful.
Some people with ADHD might benefit from cognitive behavioral and/or psychotherapy in addition to lifestyle changes and treatment strategies. These therapies can help people understand their own disruptive behavior and thoughts and help them create coping strategies to manage them.
Receiving Treatment
As adults, many with ADHD continue to experience the same problems they did in their childhood: difficulties with relationships and work, as well as difficulties in completing their schoolwork or finding work. These issues often require an appointment with a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The first step for many people is to talk to their primary healthcare provider. He or she may refer you to a mental health professional who has experience in diagnosing ADHD in adults.
Your doctor will perform a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether you suffer from ADHD or another condition that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. He or she will interview you, look over your behavior and past history, ask about medical and family history, and use the psychiatric rating scales as well as questionnaires. The doctor will also examine your physical health, such as your heart rate and blood pressure. Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms are stress, anxiety, depression and also certain medications and addiction to substances.
Adults suffering from ADHD may have difficulty recognizing the disorder. They've learned to conceal their symptoms and compensate for them, but they can still suffer from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. Many women are better in hiding their symptoms than men, and may be viewed as a slacker, goofy or troublemaker.
During an ADHD assessment, your doctor will look at your symptoms and how they impact your life. He or she may interview your family members and you and colleagues at work. He or she will use different tools, like old report cards to document childhood ADHD symptoms.
Adult ADHD is treatable with both pharmaceutical and behavioral (behavioral) treatments. The most common treatment for ADHD is medication that aids in the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. They include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as the non-stimulant Atomoxetine.
Certain behavioral therapies like cognitive behavior therapy or education on ADHD may also be helpful. Some people suffering from ADHD may benefit from a change in lifestyle, such as using a planner or journal and establishing routines. Family and marriage counseling or a life coach who can assist with time management and organization skills, can be beneficial for many. Certain people with ADHD can also benefit from a variety of accommodations at work or school for extended deadlines and flex time, which makes it easier to meet the goals of performance and be successful.
Find Help
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD is stressful. It can be the first step to getting control of the symptoms that may have been affecting your life for years. Adult symptoms of ADHD may include difficulty staying on top of work or school obligations, losing important personal belongings, not making appointments, spending money impulsively and not adhering to instructions from your doctor and many more. These issues can result in anxiety, depression and feelings of unworthiness. Following the best techniques and having a solid support network can make a big difference in the way you deal with your symptoms.
In the past, many people suffering from ADHD were misdiagnosed or not recognized. They might have had difficulty finding the right job for them, failed their educational endeavors, and had difficulty finding long-term relationships. They could be overwhelmed by regrets over missed opportunities or lost times.
A diagnosis of adult ADHD typically involves a thorough interview with a mental health professional, including family members when possible. In addition, the person will be asked to complete questionnaires and scales, and to discuss their history. In order to be diagnosed, the person must have experienced at least five symptoms of inattention and/or five symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity before age 12.
Based on the individual's symptoms and psychological testing and symptoms, neuropsychological or additional psychological tests may be required. This testing can give more details about how the person's ADHD affects their lives and help determine if there are any co-existing disorders that need to be treated.
Adult ADHD is treated through psychotherapy (psychotherapy) as well as educational programs, and occasionally medication. Psychotherapy helps people understand and manage their ADHD and improve their ability to deal with it. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that teaches people to alter negative thinking patterns and behaviors. Family and marital counseling can be beneficial to those with ADHD who have difficulties maintaining relationships.
The first step in locating a qualified counselor is to request an appointment from your physician or an expert. You can also reach out to a local psychology graduate college or university hospital to get recommendations. Choose a psychologist with whom you feel comfortable and who has experience working with adults.