Adults Diagnosis of ADHD
A diagnosis of ADHD can be a first step towards managing symptoms that cause havoc at work, home and in relationships. It's also a fantastic way to gain a new perspective on issues that have been a source of confusion and frustration throughout the many years.
Mental health professionals use ADHD symptom checklists and standardized scales for assessing behavior in the process of evaluation to determine if an adult meets the diagnostic criteria. They may also speak with family members and other significant others to gain more insight.
1. Speak to your Health Care Provider
If you've experienced difficulties at work or with your relationships and think ADHD is at fault, the first step toward finding a treatment and diagnosis is to talk to your health healthcare provider. Your doctor will help you make sense of your symptoms and recommend specialists if required.
You can also ask your friends, family and colleagues to recommend professionals who are experts in ADHD assessments of adults. You can also request information from your insurance company regarding providers in your region. Participating in an ADHD support group is a different alternative. You can talk to people who have the same challenges and learn from them how they deal with these challenges.
Many adults seek a diagnosis when their symptoms interfere with their everyday functioning at work or home. They're tired of losing their keys, being late for meetings and struggling to maintain their jobs or maintain healthy relationships. Getting a diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain the control you need to manage these issues and restore the balance in your life.
If you're discussing your symptoms with your doctor Be honest with your health care provider. Do not be shy because you do not want to be perceived as unreliable or weak. Your doctor requires a complete picture of your difficulties and how they have affected your job performance and personal life.
If your doctor suggests taking medication, be prepared to discuss your position on the topic. Some adults don't like to take medication and prefer alternative treatments, such as psychotherapy (the medical term used to describe mental health therapy) and lifestyle adjustments that are referred to as accommodations. Just as a step stool helps someone who is a little short to reach the same heights that other people achieve accommodations help those with ADHD to meet their goals and be successful.
Your doctor will inquire about your history with ADHD. It is best to recall details from childhood, when the disorder is more likely to come up. Depending on the location you live in, you may need to get copies of your school records or talk to teachers or other adults who were around you in childhood however, remember that these documents don't always confirm the diagnosis.
2. Ask for a Referral
If you are concerned about how your conduct is impacting your school, work or relationships, your family doctor can recommend an ADHD evaluation and treatment. They may also refer you to other specialists who deal with adults suffering from ADHD like psychologists and psychiatrists.
When you visit a doctor to get an evaluation, make sure to speak openly and honestly about your issues, including those related to ADHD. It is crucial not to keep information from being revealed due to feelings of shame or fear that you might be scrutinized. The accuracy of your assessment and the efficacy of any treatment recommended will be largely determined by how accurate your medical history is.
Examiners will review your social, academic and emotional history. They will also discuss how these issues impact your life 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'll want to know about any symptoms you have in the present, and any that you've experienced since childhood. They will also interview you and as much as possible talk to people who knew you when you were a child.
They will determine if your symptoms can be better explained by another mental health or medical issue, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. They will also determine if you have a neurodevelopmental disorder or learning impairment.
If a medical professional doesn't believe that you suffer from ADHD, they will tell you the other conditions or issues that could be causing your problems and why they do not believe you are suffering from ADHD. This doesn't mean that you have to accept this diagnosis; however it can be helpful in planning future care.
In many cases, someone who is diagnosed with adult ADHD will be supported by other people with ADHD and their families as well as friends, co-workers as well as teachers and coaches. They may also benefit from attending classes that teach relationships or marriage and couples counseling. Counseling can aid those with ADHD who have difficulty gaining confidence. adhd adults diagnosis can teach them how to improve their relationship skills.
3. Request a Consultation
ADHD is caused either due to a deficiency or an imbalance of neurotransmitters which regulate brain activity. This can interfere with the ability of an individual to focus and follow through on tasks. Adults who are not treated for ADHD may have difficulties with their work, relationships and other aspects of their lives. If you suspect you may have ADHD consult your doctor or request recommendations to see a psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in mental illnesses.
A mental health professional will employ an assessment system to determine whether you suffer from ADHD symptoms. A mental health professional could also conduct an interview with important people in your life, such as your spouse, and then complete the checklist of symptoms. A thorough assessment could include psychological tests that measure working memory, executive function (the abilities involved with making decisions and planning), visual and spatial ability and reasoning skills. The results can help rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, for example anxiety and depression.
During the examination, your healthcare professional will also consider how you have dealt with your symptoms over the course of time. If you tend to skip appointments, make impulsive decisions or miss deadlines, your doctor could suggest classes or therapy in order to help you learn better ways of dealing with these issues. Your doctor may suggest medication, too. The most popular stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in adults are highly efficient. However, they aren't for everyone, and they can have side negative effects. Nonstimulant medicines that don't carry the potential for abuse are now available and could be as effective as stimulants.
While finding a diagnosis and a treatment is crucial for people suffering from ADHD, it's also helpful to inform others about the condition. Many adults with ADHD have difficulty getting their spouses, parents, and their co-workers to accept their behavior. The ability to educate others can improve relationships and boost support systems. There are also ADHD support groups in a variety of communities and online.
Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult can be difficult, but it's possible. Talk to your GP who can recommend a treatment that is most appropriate to your needs.
4. Schedule and an Evaluation
It can take time to get a thorough evaluation and a diagnosis. Request an appointment from your primary care physician but in the event that your GP isn't willing or doesn't agree to refer you consult other health experts. You can contact your local chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find out which chapter in your area is specialized in adult ADHD. Also, you can check with professional groups that help adults with ADHD.
If you've been referred to an evaluator be prepared for a lengthy and thorough interview about your symptoms and how they impact your life. The evaluator will examine your medical family, personal, and medical history, as well as any current problems. They'll probably want to know how your problems have affected your relationships, work performance, and finances. They may employ standardized rating scales to compare your behavior to those of people with ADHD. These ratings can help them determine if your symptoms are related to ADHD or are better explained by a different disorder like anxiety or depression.
Your evaluator will likely also order cognitive tests to look for intellectual or learning disabilities which could be the reason for your struggles at school or at work. how is adhd diagnosed in adults for conditions that can produce symptoms similar to ADHD like thyroid disorders or seizures disorders.
Some evaluators may order additional physical exams or laboratory testing, such as blood work and brain imaging to rule out any other health problems. They might ask you to fill out a questionnaire aimed at identifying specific symptoms such as difficulty in organizing and planning or being overly active and impulsive. They could also interview a family member or friends about your childhood, looking for information that could indicate that you suffer from ADHD.
It is essential to be honest during the interview. Many people feel embarrassed having a diagnosis and they may hesitate to share information because they think they will look bad. However, it's crucial for a successful diagnosis that the evaluator gets accurate information about your struggles with organizational skills and impulse control relationships.