Getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Many people seek a diagnosis when they realize that ADHD causes them to have issues at work or in their relationships. undiagnosed adhd in adults recommends that those who are seeking a diagnosis speak with their primary healthcare provider or a mental health professional.
They will ask for an extensive medical history and perform tests like symptom rating scales and psychological tests. They might also undergo a physical exam to rule out other medical ailments that might be misinterpreted as ADHD or thyroid issues, for example or seizures.
Getting a Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be eye-opening and liberating, however it can also be stressful. Adults who have been struggling with the symptoms of ADHD for a long time may decide to seek out a medical opinion, motivated by their frustrations at work or in relationships, or because they've been informed by family or friends that they may have ADHD. It's important to note that it can take time for a health professional to make an ADHD diagnosis and the process includes more than just a series of clinical interviews or tests.
The first step in the process is to determine whether your ADHD symptoms match the criteria for the disorder: Many of them occur before age 12. They occur in a variety of settings, for example, home, school and at work. They also interfere with the daily activities of people.
Since symptoms of ADHD can also be caused by mood disorders, such as anxiety or bipolar and other physical ailments and illnesses, your healthcare professional may want to do additional tests before making an official diagnosis. This may include clinical interviews, rating-scales for symptoms, or psychological tests to evaluate thinking abilities and problem-solving skills and memory.
It is essential that you are completely honest with your mental health professional. This could mean that you discuss how your mood was affected by your struggles in different areas of life. In addition, the mental health professional doing your assessment may ask you to speak with your spouse or close friends and family members to gain a complete picture of how you've struggled. They might even ask for permission to have them complete questionnaires on their experiences with you and then compare them to your own.
Signs and symptoms
Adults suffering from ADHD might find that their symptoms impact daily life, especially at school and at work. They may have trouble keeping a job or maintaining relationships. They may also find it difficult to pay the bills due to their inattention and impulsivity, making it difficult for them remember things, organize tasks, or complete tasks. The symptoms could be mild, moderate, or severe.
To determine ADHD the professionals use standard tools called checklists, questionnaires and questions for interviews. They also check the medical and family history of the patient and take into account other mental health problems. If a person has several of the 9 symptoms, their provider uses guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) to assign a diagnosis: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type.
Symptoms of the inattentive type include difficulty paying attention to things, focusing on details, and being to be easily distracted. Problems with completing tasks and staying on task and a tendency to lose the track of time or get side-tracked are also inattentive symptoms.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type often fidget, move around frequently and have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. They tend to forget things quickly and frequently have difficulty organizing their work, home or daily activities. They might lose their keys, phones or wallets frequently. They are often unable to wait for their turn at school, work or play. They are easily frustrated or stressed and suffer from frequent mood shifts.
In adults, it's more common for people suffering from ADHD to have co-occurring disorders like conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety or depression, tic disorders or Tourette syndrome, as well as substance abuse problems. Co-occurring disorders may complicate treatment, and make it harder to determine the cause of ADHD.
Treatment
If you suspect you may have ADHD the first step in getting a diagnosis is to speak with your primary care physician. They can refer you to a specialist in mental health. These professionals will review your symptoms and issues at work, school or at home to assess how they impact your life. They will conduct a structured interview and might seek the assistance of family members or close friends who know you well. They will also go over the medical and family background of your family, and will conduct a physical examination.
Your doctor will also look at the length of time you've had these symptoms, and what effect they are having on your life. To be considered to have ADHD, symptoms must have been present for at least 6 months and are not explained by other conditions like depression or anxiety. Additionally, they should interfere with everyday activities like attending classes, completing tasks on time, or keeping an occupation.
During your evaluation the mental health professional could utilize standardized scales of behavior and ADHD symptoms checklists. They will likely also conduct an assessment of your cognitive abilities to test your executive functioning and visual and spatial abilities. They will also test for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as seizure or thyroid disorder.
If your psychiatrist determines that you suffer from ADHD and you are diagnosed, they will explain what medications are available and discuss treatment options. It is often best to combine treatment with talk therapy (counseling). Therapy helps you learn to manage your symptoms and improve communication with family members and co-workers. Therapy can also aid in resolving issues that can be a problem in relationships and marriages because of the issues ADHD can cause.
Medication
The symptoms of ADHD in adults are generally much milder than they were in childhood, however they can still cause problems at home and work. The disorder can result in difficulties in obtaining or keeping a good job, problems with social relationships and interactions and self-esteem issues, academic failures, emotional distress, temper tantrums, and antisocial behavior.
Treatment with medication can help treat the disorder by increasing and balancing the levels of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. They regulate the flow information in the brain. The stimulants, which are typically prescribed for ADHD in adults, are the most common drugs. Jornay, Xelstrym, Cotempla and Adhansia are all examples of stimulants. The nonstimulant atomoxetine and certain antidepressants, like bupropion are also used to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs work slower than stimulants and could be beneficial for those who cannot take stimulant medication due to health problems or severe side-effects.
Psychotherapy (also called cognitive-behavioral therapy) could be beneficial in treating disorders that are comorbid with ADHD like anxiety and depression. Research suggests that psychotherapy can be a more effective treatment for these conditions than using medication alone. Psychotherapy focuses primarily on teaching techniques for managing the disorder and improving performance at work, in school and with relationships. The goal is to increase confidence in oneself, reduce problems with behavior, and improve functioning and success. It is recommended that every psychotherapy method for adult ADHD patients contain a cognitive-behavioral component. In one study, researchers found that ADHD patients who received psychotherapy and medication experienced a higher level of improvement than those who simply took the pills.
Counseling
For adults who don't want to use medication Therapy and counseling could provide significant relief. Individual therapy can address issues like low self-esteem, feelings of being insecure and frequent job changes that typically are a part of ADHD. It can also help improve relationships and improve communication by helping patients and their families to comprehend the condition and develop strategies for dealing with it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching patients how to overcome negative thoughts and manage their behavior. This type of treatment can reduce symptoms of inattentive ADHD and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, as well as comorbid mood disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Therapists can also concentrate on the development of organizational and time-management skills or teach coping techniques to manage impulse control, emotional regulation, and relationship problems caused by an impulsive behavior. These techniques can assist you in living a more productive life especially at work.
Counseling can also assist those with ADHD in requesting workplace accommodations that could be provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which can greatly enhance job performance and satisfaction. For professionals, this may be a matter of changing the way their work is structured to give them more flexibility to meet deadlines and finish tasks on time.
Selecting the right therapist is essential to getting the most value from treatment for adult ADHD. Asking about the therapist's approach and whether they have successfully treated ADHD in adults is important when interviewing potential therapists. Verifying the credentials of therapists as well as insurance coverage is an excellent idea. Some providers offer an affordable sliding scale fee or offer online therapy services that make therapy accessible to people who cannot afford to pay out from their pockets.