Getting a Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults
Many adults aren't aware of ADHD symptoms. Being diagnosed as an adult may provide options for treatment.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five persistent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity. These symptoms should affect your daily activities, whether at home, at work, and socially. Talk therapy can help improve the ability to communicate and problem solve. Family and marital counseling can also be helpful.
Symptoms
If you're struggling with the symptoms of ADHD it might seem as if you're not living up to your potential. You might be overwhelmed as an adult due to your responsibilities. You could be working full-time as well as caring for your elderly parents or children, and taking care of household chores.
Your inability to keep up with the pace can lead to frustration and embarrassment. You may also feel hopeless, lose confidence, or even feel embarrassed. It's not a problem when you suffer from ADHD. It's important to realize that there are solutions to your problems. The first step is a diagnosis.
A health care professional can diagnose ADHD in adults through an extensive psychiatric examination. This includes talking with you about symptoms, requiring you complete standardized behavior rating scales and ADHD symptoms lists and obtaining information about your mental health and medical background. The doctor might inquire about the history 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 occurred prior to age 12 and continue to affect your life. You must also have difficulty with these behavior in multiple situations, like at work, school, and in your social interactions.
If your inattention is a major problem, you might be late for appointments, make impulsive mistakes at work or at home and fail to follow through on your responsibilities. You may have trouble managing your health and finances and may have a hard to complete simple tasks, like remembering to take medication or visiting the doctor for checkups.
People who suffer from ADHD are prone to making difficult situations more difficult by acting before they think. You may interrupt conversations, answer questions before others are done or have trouble waiting in the line. Your impulsiveness can result in risky behavior like driving too fast or spending money in a reckless manner.
Research suggests that genetics and environmental factors play an important role in the development of ADHD. The symptoms are more likely to run in families, and some researchers believe that problems with the central nervous system at crucial developmental points increase the risk for this condition.
Diagnosis
A health care professional who has a specialization in ADHD can help people who are suffering from symptoms of the disorder. An evaluation typically includes an interview, a review of medical background, school or work records along with family medical history and an examination for mental health. A trained professional may also conduct a physical examination and/or laboratory tests to identify other conditions that share similar symptoms. For an adolescent or adult to receive a diagnosis of ADHD symptoms must be present for at minimum six months and cause significant impairment to daily life functions.
Undiagnosed or not treated ADHD can cause chronic problems that could have been prevented or treated. This can cause depression, family problems financial or work-related stress, substance abuse and even serious accidents, such as motor vehicle crashes.
Undiagnosed ADHD can result in misinterpretations by family members, friends and coworkers. They could be seen by others as lazy, unreliable or a poor employee. Undiagnosed ADHD can also increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
Women are more adept at concealing ADHD symptoms than men. This can make it more difficult for them to receive an accurate diagnosis. They may resort to strategies to disguise their inattention or impulsivity, for example frequent distractions and daydreaming, or rely on devices to make up for their lack of organization and poor time management skills. Women who suffer from ADHD might also have trouble identifying their symptoms, as they are more likely than men to suffer from hyperactive or inattention symptoms.
It's important to keep in mind that ADHD isn't an indicator of intelligence or ability. It's just an alternative approach to thinking and acting that can cause challenges in certain situations or environments.
In adults, it may be difficult to identify ADHD because the symptoms may have changed as they became older. However, symptoms of ADHD in adults still meet the criteria listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1.
Treatment
People with undiagnosed ADHD might struggle to stay organized, keep track of school or work tasks and maintain healthy relationships. Symptoms can also interfere with everyday functioning and can trigger emotional issues like anxiety or depression. People who are impulsive or hyperactive might appear to be agitated and they may try to do many things at once. They may not be able to complete tasks or meet deadlines. They may have difficulty paying attention to other people, leading to misunderstandings and problems with relationships.
Symptoms of the disorder often go unrecognized in childhood, and many adults with the disorder don't know they have ADHD. Instead of struggling to keep pace in their studies and daily life they may have been labelled as a dreamer or a slacker. As the demands of adulthood increase, however, many people who have ADHD find their symptoms grow worse. They're unable to handle all the balls they're trying to keep on top of - pursuing an occupation, caring for family members, keeping up with chores and household chores, and working on social and romantic relationships.
A health care professional or mental health professional will evaluate whether a person has ADHD. The assessment typically involves conversations with family members, friends and others who know the person well as well as a physical exam and a review of a person's medical and mental health history. The person may be asked to complete standardized ADHD ratings scales or a list of symptoms. Psychological tests can be used to test executive function and working memory as well as spatial and visual abilities.
Stimulant medication is the most frequently used treatment for adults with ADHD. These medications balance and boost levels of brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters. They can help people with ADHD to focus better, organize their lives, remember important information and tasks, and manage the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulant medicines, such as antidepressants and atomoxetine, can be used to treat ADHD. get adhd diagnosis are slower than stimulants, yet they can still help improve symptoms. Before taking stimulants with certain health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, should talk to their doctor.
Certain adults suffering from ADHD might benefit from individual therapy, self-help groups, or vocational counseling. These interventions can help adults to cope with their ADHD symptoms and develop healthy relationships at home, at school, and at work. A few adults with ADHD are also enrolled in clinical studies. These studies allow scientists to gain knowledge about how to treat, diagnose and prevent disorders like ADHD.
Follow-up
A thorough evaluation of ADHD in adults using several assessment instruments will improve the accuracy of diagnosis and minimize misdiagnosis. The process usually involves an extended conversation with a psychiatrist or psychologist who is skilled in treating ADHD in adults. The evaluator may also ask about the history of your your child's health problems, family dynamics and lifestyle choices. The evaluator could also review your medical records and conduct an examination of your body.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from other psychiatric or medical conditions like anxiety and depression, which need to be treated. It is estimated that those who suffer from ADHD are six times more likely to suffer from mood disorders. People who suffer from ADHD are also at a greater risk of using drugs.
Adults who suffer from ADHD have a difficult finding and keeping jobs. They also have a difficult time managing their finances and juggling household chores. Adults with ADHD are at a higher chance of developing health issues, such as obesity, heart disease, and smoking. Additionally they are more likely to suffer from poor eating habits and are more likely to have trouble forming and keeping romantic relationships.
In one study, individuals with ADHD who were treated in minor mental health facilities as children continued to be diagnosed with ADHD into adulthood. The sample size was small. An expansion of the sample could have provided more information about the clinical course of ADHD in adulthood and its connection to other psychiatric disorders.
Research has proven ADHD to be a long-lasting and persistent disorder among adults. It can have a negative effect on living quality and lead to other conditions such as mood disorders, learning disabilities, alcohol and drugs abuse. People with untreated ADHD are at a greater risk for incarceration and divorce, being less socioeconomically stable and more serious psychiatric problems.
It is recommended that all adults with new diagnoses or uncontrolled symptoms of ADHD be seen within 30 days, and then every month thereafter until their symptoms are under control. Adults suffering from ADHD might need to continue receiving psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy for the rest their lives.