Adults Diagnosis of ADHD
A diagnosis of ADHD is an essential first step in managing symptoms that cause havoc at work, at home and in relationships. It can also be a way to gain perspective on problems that have been a source of confusion and frustrating for years.
Mental health professionals utilize ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized scales for assessing behavior during the evaluation process to determine if an adult fits the diagnostic criteria. They can also conduct interviews with relatives and close friends to gain additional insight.
1. Talk to Your Health Care Provider
If you've experienced issues at work or in your relationships and think ADHD is the cause the first step to finding a treatment and diagnosis is talking to your health medical professional. Your doctor can help to understand the causes and refer you to a specialist, if needed.
You could also ask your family members, friends and colleagues for recommendations on specialists who specialize in ADHD evaluations for adults. You can also inquire from your insurance company about providers in your area. Another option is to go to an ADHD support group to talk with people who have similar challenges and to learn about how they deal with them.
Many adults seek medical attention when their symptoms affect their day-to-day performance at home or at work. They're fed up of losing their keys, constantly being late for meetings and struggling to maintain their jobs or maintain healthy relationships. You can manage these signs by obtaining an assessment.
Be honest when talking to your doctor about the symptoms. Don't be afraid to speak up because you don't want to be seen as unreliable or weak. Your doctor will need to be aware of your issues and how they have affected your work performance and personal life.
If your doctor suggests medication be prepared to discuss your position on it. Some adults don't like to take medication and prefer alternative treatments including psychotherapy (the medical term used to describe mental health therapy) and lifestyle changes that are known as accommodations. As a step stool can help someone who is small attain the same heights as others accommodations help those who suffer from ADHD to reach their goals and be successful.
Your specialist will ask about your past experiences with ADHD. It is important to keep specific details from your childhood since this is when the disorder will likely be evident. Depending on where you live, you may need to get copies of your school records or speak to teachers or other adults who were around you in childhood However, keep in mind that these records don't necessarily indicate a diagnosis.
2. Ask for a referral
If you are concerned about how your behavior negatively impacting your work, school or your relationships, your family doctor may recommend an ADHD evaluation and treatment. They may also be able to provide you referrals to other specialists, including psychologists and psychiatrists who specialize in treating adults suffering from ADHD.
If you're going to an expert for an evaluation, be sure to be open and honest about your issues. This includes any issues related to ADHD. It is essential not to hold back information because of guilt or fear that you could be criticized. Your history will determine the quality of your assessment as well as the efficacy of any treatment recommendations.
Examiners will examine your academic, social, and emotional history. They will also discuss how these issues are affecting you today. The examiner will also review the diagnostic guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). They will want to know about any symptoms you have in the present, and any that you have had since childhood. They will ask you questions and, if possible, also speak with those who knew you as a child.
In addition to determining if you meet the criteria for ADHD in addition, they will look at whether your symptoms might be explained better by a different mental health condition or medical issue, such as anxiety or depression. adhd diagnosing will also determine if you have any learning disabilities or any other neurodevelopmental disorder.
If a professional does not think you are suffering from ADHD then they will inform you what other conditions or issues might be causing your issues and the reason they don't think you have ADHD. This doesn't mean that you must accept the diagnosis, but it can aid in planning your future care.
In most cases, someone who is diagnosed with adult ADHD will be supported by others with ADHD and their families as well as co-workers, friends as well as teachers and coaches. They may also benefit by taking classes in the art of communication, or marriage and couple counseling. Counseling can help those with ADHD who have difficulty gaining confidence. It can also teach them how to improve their relationship skills.
3. Schedule a Consultation
ADHD is caused by a shortage or imbalance in neurotransmitters that regulate brain activity. This can impact a person's concentration and ability to complete tasks. Adults who are not treated for ADHD can struggle in their relationships, careers and in many other aspects of their lives. If you think you might be suffering from ADHD consult your health care provider or ask for a referral to see a psychiatrist or psychologist who is trained in mental health.
A mental health professional will determine whether you are suffering from ADHD symptoms by using an assessment scale. A mental health professional might also interview important people in your life, such as your spouse and complete the checklist of symptoms. A thorough examination could include a psychological test that measures working memory and executive functioning (the abilities that are involved in making decisions and planning) spatial and visual abilities, and reasoning abilities. The results can aid in determining other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, for example depression and anxiety.
During the examination, your healthcare professional will also consider how you have managed your symptoms over time. For instance, if you often forget appointments, miss deadlines or make impulsive decisions your doctor might suggest therapy or classes to help you learn better strategies to overcome these challenges. Your doctor might also suggest medication. The most common stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD in adults are highly effective. But they don't work for everyone, and can have side negative effects. Nonstimulant drugs that don't have the potential for abuse are now available and could be as effective as stimulants.
It is essential to educate others about ADHD. While those who suffer from ADHD need to be diagnosed and be treated as needed, it's also beneficial to help them educate their spouses, parents, and coworkers. For example, many adults with ADHD find their spouses, parents and co-workers have difficulty understanding their behavior. Educating others can improve relationships and increase support systems. There are ADHD support groups within many communities, as well as on the internet.
It can be challenging to diagnose ADHD in adults however, it is doable. Talk to your GP who can recommend a treatment that is best suited to your needs.
4. Schedule and an Evaluation
It can take some time to get a precise evaluation and diagnosis. If your GP is not willing or is not willing to refer you to another health professional, you can ask for a referral. Call your local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD for names of local professionals who specialize in adult ADHD or contact the professional associations that help people suffering from ADHD to see if they have any recommendations.
Prepare yourself for a thorough and lengthy conversation about your symptoms, and how they impact your life. The evaluator will look over your personal, medical, and family history as well as the problems you're currently experiencing. They'll probably want to know how the symptoms have impacted your relationships as well as your work performance and financial situation. They may employ standardized rating scales that compare your behavior to the behavior of people who do not have ADHD. These ratings will help them determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD or are more likely to be explained by a different disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
Your evaluator could also conduct cognitive tests in order to determine if you have intellectual or learning difficulties that could explain your difficulties at school or work. Some evaluators test for conditions that can produce symptoms similar to ADHD like thyroid disorders or seizures disorders.
Some evaluators will order additional physical examinations or lab tests, like brain imaging and blood work to rule out other health issues. They may request you to complete an assessment questionnaire that seeks to identify specific signs, such as difficulty planning and organizing or being too energetic and hyperactive. They might also interview a family member or your friends about your childhood in order to search for evidence that you have ADHD.
It's important to be open and honest during the interview. Many adults are uncomfortable asking for a diagnosis and withhold information, thinking that it will make their appearance look worse. But, it is essential to get a positive diagnosis that the examiner receives exact information about your issues with organizational skills, impulse control, and relationships.