Getting a Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults
Some adults may not be aware of their ADHD symptoms. A diagnosis as an adult may open up treatment options.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five persistent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity. These symptoms should significantly interfere with your daily activities at work, at home, and socially. Talk therapy can help improve communication and problem solving skills. Counseling for family and marriage can be beneficial.
Signs and symptoms
If you're struggling with the symptoms of ADHD it might seem as if you're not living up to your potential. As an adult, you may feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities and feel like you're unable to manage the many tasks in front of you. You could be working full time and caring for your children or an elderly parent and trying to manage household chores and finances.
Your inability to keep up with the pace can lead to embarrassment and frustration. You might be feeling hopeless or lose confidence, or even feel embarrassed. It's not a problem if you have ADHD. But it's important to know that there are solutions to your issues. The first step is to make a diagnosis.
A medical professional can identify ADHD in adults through an exhaustive psychiatric assessment. This includes talking to you about your symptoms, requiring you to complete standardized scales for assessing behavior and ADHD symptom checklists, and gathering information regarding your medical and psychiatric background. The doctor may inquire about the background of ADHD in your family.
To qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD, you must have experienced at least five persistent symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. These symptoms must have been present before age 12 and continue to cause problems with your life. You should also be having difficulty with these behaviors at the very least in two different situations which include work, school and social interactions.
You may miss appointments, make erroneous mistakes at work or home and fail to meet your responsibilities if your lack of attention is a problem. You may be struggling with managing your health and finances and may have a hard to complete simple tasks, such as making sure you take your medication on time or visiting the doctor for a checkup.
People who suffer from ADHD can make difficult situations worse by acting before they think. You might interrupt conversations, respond to questions before people are finished or struggle to wait in line. Your impulsiveness could lead to dangerous activities, like driving too quickly or spending money in a reckless manner.
According to research that have been conducted, environment and genetics are key factors in the development ADHD. The symptoms of ADHD typically be inherited from the family, and some scientists believe that issues with the central nervous system during crucial developmental stages increase your risk.
Diagnosis
A health care specialist who is specialized in ADHD can help evaluate adults who exhibit symptoms of the disorder. A typical evaluation consists of an interview, a review of medical history, school or work records, family medical history and an assessment of mental health. A specialist may also conduct a physical examination and/or tests in the laboratory to identify other conditions that share similar symptoms. For an adolescent or adult to receive a diagnosis of ADHD symptoms, they must be present for at minimum six months, and cause significant impairment in daily life functions.
People who aren't diagnosed or treated for ADHD can struggle for the rest of their lives with ongoing issues which could have been avoided or treated. This can cause depression, family problems and financial stress, as well as work-related issues, addiction to drugs and even serious accidents such as motor vehicle crashes.
Many adults with undiagnosed ADHD are at risk of being misunderstood and criticized by friends, relatives and coworkers. They might be viewed as lazy, irresponsible or even just plain crazy. Undiagnosed ADHD can also increase the chance of depression and anxiety.
Women are more adept at concealing ADHD symptoms than men. This can make it harder for them to receive the correct diagnosis. They may use distractions or daydreaming to disguise their inattentiveness and impulsivity. They may also rely on strategies and tools to help them overcome their lack of time management and lack of organization. Women who suffer from ADHD may also have difficulty diagnosing their symptoms, as they are more likely than men to exhibit hyperactive or inattention symptoms.
It's important to keep in mind that ADHD isn't a metric of intelligence or capacity. It's just a different way of thinking and behaving that can cause challenges in certain settings or situations.
In adults, it may be difficult to diagnose ADHD because the signs may have changed over time as they grew up. Adults who suffer from ADHD still meet the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association.
Treatment
People who aren't diagnosed with ADHD may struggle to get organized, stay on top of school or work obligations and maintain healthy relationships. Symptoms also can interfere with the daily routine and trigger emotional issues like anxiety, depression or mood swings. People who suffer from hyperactivity or impulsive subtypes of the disorder may seem agitated and may try to accomplish several things at once, failing to complete tasks or meet deadlines. They may have difficulty paying attention to others which can lead to miscommunications and problems with relationships.
The symptoms of the disorder usually remain unnoticed in the early years, and a lot of adults with the disorder do not know they have ADHD. They might have been viewed as a goof-off, dreamer or a slacker instead of struggling to stay on top in school and daily life. As the responsibilities grow in adulthood however, many who suffer from ADHD notice their symptoms getting worse. They're not able to handle all the balls they're trying keep on top of - pursuing a career, caring for family members, keeping up with household chores and errands, as well as trying to improve their romantic and social relationships.
A health care professional or mental health professional will evaluate whether a person suffers from ADHD. The assessment usually involves conversations with family members and friends, as well as other people who are familiar with the person, a physical exam, and a review of the person's medical and psychiatric history. The patient could be asked to fill out standardized ADHD ratings scales or a checklist of symptoms. Psychological testing can be used to determine executive function, working memory, and visual and spatial skills.
Adults suffering from ADHD are typically treated with stimulant medications. These medications increase and balance levels of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. They can help those with ADHD better focus and manage their lives, recall important information and tasks, and manage their an impulsive behaviour. Non-stimulant drugs, like antidepressants and atomoxetine can also be used to treat ADHD. They work more slowly than stimulants, but still improve symptoms. People who have certain health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes, should talk to their doctor prior to taking stimulants.
Some adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from behavioral therapy, coaching, self-help groups or vocational counseling. These interventions can help adults how to manage their ADHD symptoms as well as establish healthy relationships at home, at school, and at work. Some adults with ADHD are also enrolled in clinical studies. These studies help scientists learn more about the latest methods to diagnose, treat and prevent disorders such as ADHD.
Follow-up
A thorough evaluation of adult ADHD using various assessment inventories can help improve the accuracy of diagnosis and decrease the risk of misdiagnosis. The process usually involves an extended conversation with a psychiatrist or psychologist who is experienced in treating ADHD in adults. The evaluator will also ask you about your or children's health history, family dynamics, and lifestyle choices. The evaluator could also review your medical records and conduct an examination of your physical.
Many people with ADHD also suffer from other psychiatric disorders or medical conditions, like depression and anxiety, which need to be treated. In fact, it's believed that those who suffer from ADHD are six times more likely suffer from mood disorders than the rest of us. People who suffer from ADHD also are at a higher risk of substance abuse.
Adults with ADHD have a hard finding and keeping jobs. They also have a harder managing finances and juggling household chores. Adults with ADHD have an increased chance of developing health problems, like heart disease, obesity, and smoking. They are also more likely to have bad eating habits and have trouble forming and maintaining relationships with their partners.
In adhd diagnostic , those with ADHD who were treated in mental health services as young children continued to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. The sample size was small. A larger sample size could provide additional information on the clinical course and relationships of ADHD in patients with other psychiatric disorders.
Research has demonstrated ADHD to be a chronic and persistent problem for adults. It can have a negative effect on the quality of life and lead to other conditions like mood disorders, learning disabilities, and alcohol and drugs abuse. If left untreated, ADHD increases the chance of incarceration or divorce, as well as an economic disadvantage for those suffering from ADHD.
It is recommended that all adults with a new diagnosis or uncontrolled symptoms of ADHD be evaluated within 30 days, and then every month after that until the symptoms are managed. Adults who suffer from ADHD might need to continue receiving pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy for the rest their lives.