ADHD Diagnosis in Adults

A licensed mental health professional (psychiatrists, neurologists or family doctors) must diagnose ADHD. The symptoms are evaluated using standard behavior rating scales developed from research that compares the behaviors of individuals with and without ADHD.

A medical examination is also conducted because certain medical conditions, such as thyroid problems or seizures may mimic ADHD symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of ADHD are a major concern for those seeking a diagnosis. They might have trouble keeping an occupation, maintaining healthy relationships or keeping up with household chores. Additionally, they could be suffering from anxiety and mood disorders or substance use problems. The first step to getting a diagnosis is to make an appointment with your health care provider. Your doctor can refer you to an adult ADHD specialist who is able to conduct the test. You can also ask the local hospital that is affiliated with a university or a medical school for recommendations, and some insurance plans provide professionals by specialization.

In the course of an evaluation, a mental health professional will review your medical and personal history and then examine you to determine whether you have any of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association contains these criteria. The doctor will look for inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Inattention symptoms include ignoring other people, not following instructions and overlooking the smallest details. Those with ADHD tend to be forgetful and have trouble finishing tasks, especially when they're not interested in them.

People who suffer from hyperactivity and impulsive symptoms may run around and climb where they shouldn't, disrupt conversations and games or take over other people's toys and sports equipment, or even homework assignments. They aren't able to wait for their turn or play quietly. They often blurt out answers to questions before the person asking has finished their thought or they are unable to wait until they are ready to speak at school, work or at a gathering. They might have difficulty waiting for assistance or even spending money, and frequently miss appointments.

A thorough mental health evaluation is important before diagnosing ADHD as a number of conditions can resemble the symptoms of the disorder, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and certain medications and head injuries. A psychiatric evaluation usually involves an organized interview that is focused on your social emotional, academic and personal life. This may also include interviews with family members and friends. Your mental health specialist may conduct psychological tests to determine your working memory as well as executive functioning capabilities and spatial and visual skills.

Diagnosis

If adults are given an ADHD diagnosis, it's usually life-changing. It may give a reason for the frustrations that they experience on a daily basis like work issues, difficulties making friends, relationship conflicts or a lack financial stability. It may also help explain the reason why they were considered in the past as irresponsible or lazy.

Diagnosing ADHD in adults is trickier than diagnosing children because the symptoms change over time. To diagnose the disorder doctors follow the guidelines laid out by the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria for adult adhd and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This evaluation may include symptom lists as well as behavior rating scales, and interviews with family members, teachers parents, spouses or parents.

In addition to a thorough interview, some doctors may also require patients to answer questionnaires or complete psychological tests to measure working memory, executive functioning abilities (such as decision-making and planning), visual and spatial skills, and reasoning (thinking) abilities. Based on the individual, some doctors may also require a brain scan, or conduct other clinical lab tests, like bloodwork or a physical exam.

It is crucial for a doctor to take into consideration any co-occurring conditions that may be a cause of ADHD such as mood disorders, learning disabilities, substance use or head injuries (Austerman, 2015). In the course of an assessment, a doctor may also interview relatives of the patient and friends to gather additional details about their experiences of the condition.

Many people who suffer from ADHD forget important events that happened in their childhood, particularly when they're suffering from emotional distress. For this reason, it's common for physicians to request a patient's parents or other close family members to complete a retrospective ADHD profile describing the child's behavior and school performance.

Some patients are hesitant to seek a diagnose because they don't believe their problems are serious. However, for those suffering from undiagnosed ADHD the repercussions of a delayed or missed diagnosis can be devastating.

Treatment

For adults suffering from ADHD being diagnosed is the first step towards finding treatment. Most people who suffer from ADHD start by talking to their primary healthcare provider who will refer them to a mental-health specialist.

A psychiatric assessment typically involves an explanation and discussion of symptoms, interviews with the patient and independent sources like spouses and friends, the completion of ADHD symptom lists and standardized behavior scales and psychometric tests such as tests for intelligence and learning disabilities. In addition, it's important to eliminate medical conditions like seizures and thyroid issues which may cause ADHD symptoms.

Most of the time, the most difficult part of a diagnosis of adhd in adults diagnostic criteria for adults is adjusting to the stigma that comes with the condition. It's common for adults suffering from untreated ADHD to feel like a failure, especially in areas such as work and relationships. A diagnosis can help people with ADHD to understand what's happening and recognize that it's not them according to research psychologist Karla pretorius, M.Psych, who specializes ADHD in adults.

Talking about your issues with colleagues, supervisors and teachers can be beneficial. Educating them about ADHD will help them to understand your challenges and provide small adjustments to allow you to be successful, such as giving you more time to complete your work or providing a quiet space to study. You'll find that often your colleagues or instructors are more understanding than you expected.

Talk to your primary doctor about taking part in a trial if you are interested in taking medication for ADHD. These trials are intended to test new methods to prevent or treat illnesses and conditions. They can give you access to the most advanced treatments and treatments before they are widely available.

Medications for ADHD can help you improve your ability to concentrate and follow directions as well as manage impulsive behaviors. It is important to combine medications with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can help you develop coping skills, help you establish healthy routines and to manage your feelings of discontent and guilt over past failures. It will help you understand how your ADHD impacts your family and relationship dynamics.

Counseling

For many adults, getting the diagnosis of ADHD can be a transformative experience. Many adults have had to deal with impulsive, unorganized or inattentive behaviors for years before they understood the reason. Receiving a diagnosis enables people to realize that their difficulties aren't just due to being unlucky or unsuccessful.

The process of interviewing an expert in mental health is the first step in receiving a diagnosis. During the interview, the person is asked about their mental health issues and how they affect their lives both personally and professionally. The physician will want learn about the person's past, particularly from childhood. This may include asking about any previous diagnoses or mental health issues. It is typically beneficial for people to bring along a family member or a close acquaintance to the interview, since they can assist in recalling details.

In the course of the evaluation the person will be asked to complete psychological tests to assess their working memory, executive functioning, visual and spatial skills and reasoning skills. It is essential to answer all questions in a complete and honest manner so that an accurate assessment of the abilities of a person can be obtained. It is crucial to not hide information during an interview out of embarrassment.

To be diagnosed with ADHD, an adult must show symptoms that are causing significant impairment in at least two different settings. ADHD symptoms can cause someone to struggle at school or at work and may even be a victim of problems with relationships.

Counseling options can help people who have a diagnosis of ADHD learn how long does it take to get diagnosed with adhd to deal with their symptoms, and develop strategies to be successful at work, school and in relationships. This can include individual therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy as well as learning how to manage inattention and impulsive behaviors. It is also recommended that individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD get married and family counseling to address the issues that can arise due to their symptoms.

OT (occupational therapist) and yoga techniques can be beneficial for those with ADHD. These techniques combine the physical benefits from exercise along with the mental benefits of meditation. OT can assist those suffering from ADHD establish routines and a structure while yoga teaches breathing and relaxation techniques to improve mental acuity.