Adult ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
Ask your primary care physician for a referral if think you might be suffering from ADHD. You can also ask for suggestions from your family and friends or look online for experts who are qualified to conduct ADHD assessments.
A doctor will ask you questions regarding your current symptoms, however according to current guidelines, a diagnosis can't be made without also considering your childhood history. Your specialist may ask to speak with your parents, teachers or any other adult who knew you as an infant.
Understanding Your Symptoms
Many people suffering from ADHD don't know they have it until adulthood. They may have missed the diagnosis as a child and then struggle with problems at work, at home and at school. A diagnosis and treatment plan will help them to restore their lives to order.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have trouble focus, planning, or paying attention to detail. They tend to make decisions on impulse and are easily distracted. They might also find that they cannot sit through boring activities and tend to shift their focus from one task to the next. This can lead to missed events, poor time-management and frequent mistakes at work or school.
The symptoms of adult adhd are different for each person. The symptoms of adult adhd differ for everyone. The signs typically appear in childhood but can also be seen as an adolescent or adult. The symptoms should be present for at least six months and cause significant difficulty in multiple settings before they can be identified.
A doctor can examine your school report card to determine if there are any comments regarding your conduct or lack of effort. The doctor may also ask that the person being assessed discuss the situation with their parents. Adults who are being assessed by a doctor for ADHD should be honest and open about their problems. They shouldn't hold back from fear of embarrassment or shame.
Women with ADHD are often overlooked or misdiagnosed because their symptoms are not as obvious like those of men. The struggles of women with ADHD are often hidden due to the fact that they are responsible for caring for their children or working in positions which are more gender-specific. Signs of ADHD for women include forgetting or being absentminded about important tasks, not being able to complete work on time, making frequent mistakes and having trouble staying focused at school or in the workplace. They are also more likely to display fidgeting behavior such as bouncing the leg or tapping their feet.
Adults with ADHD can still be successful in having success in their professional and personal lives. They need to learn how to manage their challenges and take advantage of the support they have available. They can also take advantage of strategies that will help them to succeed, like using a planner, calendar and phone apps that offer reminders.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
The signs of adult ADHD can be difficult to differentiate from the normal issues that arise in everyday life, like forgetting appointments or losing track of tasks. The distinction is crucial as if the condition is not addressed, treated properly or unmanaged, it can cause serious social and work problems, including financial difficulties and troubled relationships.
A mental health professional with particular training and experience treating ADHD can diagnose the condition. This can include clinical psychologists, therapists and doctors (such as neurologists, psychiatrists or family doctors) who specialize in neurology or psychiatry. Professionals with qualifications also know how to deal with co-existing conditions, such as depression and anxiety, that are often present with ADHD.
An in-depth interview will be conducted to determine whether a patient has ADHD. This will include a thorough review of the patient's medical and personal history as well as family background. The interview will include questions about the effects of ADHD symptoms on the person's work and relationships. It is important that the person is honest and not hide any information.
It is also an excellent idea to discuss any issues that the person has experienced in their work or home life since the time of their childhood. These can often reveal patterns that could indicate ADHD. For instance, a lot of people with ADHD have a tendency to change jobs frequently and have difficulty developing close relationships. Additionally, it is common for adults with ADHD to have problems with managing their money and to spend more than they should.
In certain instances an evaluation for adults with ADHD might include additional tests like neuropsychological, psychological or tests for learning disabilities to rule out other causes of the individual's issues. For example, a person suffering from ADHD could also be suffering from a learning impairment, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. In these situations, accommodations--tools or changes in the environment that help manage a disability--may be helpful.
In addition to treatment methods and lifestyle changes Certain people with ADHD benefit from cognitive behavior therapy and/or psychotherapy. These therapies can help people recognize their own thoughts and behaviors and create coping strategies to manage them.
Finding Treatment
As adults, many people with ADHD have the same issues that they had when they were children: problems with relationships and work, difficulties getting through school or finding work. These problems often require the need for medical referrals to diagnose and treatment. The first step for a lot of people is to speak to their primary care physician. He or she may refer you to a mental health professional who has experience in diagnosing ADHD in adults.
Your doctor will perform a thorough evaluation in order to determine whether you suffer from ADHD or another condition that may cause symptoms similar to ADHD. The doctor will interview you, go over your behavior and past history of your family and medical history, and utilize psychiatric rating scales and questionnaires. The doctor will also examine your physical health including blood pressure and heartbeat. Other conditions that can be causing similar symptoms include depression, anxiety, stress and certain medications as well as alcohol abuse.
Adults with ADHD often have a hard to recognize that they suffer from the disorder. They may have learned how to conceal their symptoms or compensate for them, but have low self-confidence and self-esteem. Women are often better than men in hiding their symptoms. They may have become accustomed to being called an inept, lazy or a troublemaker.
In an ADHD assessment, your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. He or she will likely interview you, as well as your family members and colleagues. He or she could use old report cards to document childhood ADHD symptoms.
Treatment options for adult ADHD are behavioral and pharmacological (medication). The most popular treatment for ADHD is medication that helps balance neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals. They include stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine as well as the nonstimulant Atomoxetine.
Some behavioral treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and education on ADHD can also aid. Certain people with ADHD benefit from lifestyle modifications by establishing routines and keeping journals or a planner. Family and marriage counseling or a life coach who can assist with time management and organizing skills, are beneficial for many. Some people with ADHD also benefit from accommodations at school or at work like extended deadlines or flex time, which makes it easier to meet the goals of performance and be successful.
Finding Support
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be a stressful experience. It can also be the first step towards finding a way to manage the issues that have been affecting your life for a number of years. Adult symptoms of ADHD may include difficulty staying on top of school or work obligations, misplacing important personal items, avoiding appointments, impulsively spending money not following instructions from your doctor and many more. These problems can cause chronic anxiety, low confidence and feelings of inadequacy. Following the best practices and having a good support network can make a huge difference in the way you deal with your symptoms.
In the past, many people suffering from ADHD were misdiagnosed or not recognized. They may have had difficulty finding a job they liked or failing in their educational efforts, and struggled to establish long-term relationships. They could have regrets about missed opportunities and lost time.
A diagnosis of adult ADHD typically requires a thorough interview with an expert in mental health including family members should it be possible. In addition, the person will be asked to complete questionnaires and scales, as well as to talk about their history. In order to be diagnosed, the person must have experienced at least five symptoms of inattention and/or five symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity before age 12.
Depending on the individual and their symptoms, additional tests for neuropsychological or psychological testing could be required. diagnosis of adhd can give more details on how the individual's ADHD impacts their lives and also help determine if there are any co-existing issues that need to be treated.
Treatment options for adults with ADHD generally include psychological counseling (psychotherapy), education and occasionally, medications. Psychotherapy helps individuals understand and manage their ADHD and improve their ability to manage it. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people to change their negative thought patterns and behavior. Family and marriage counseling can be beneficial for those with ADHD who are having difficulty maintaining relationships.
The first step in finding the right counselor is to seek an appointment from your doctor or a specialist. You can also contact a local university-based hospital or graduate school in psychology to receive recommendations. Choose a psychologist who you are comfortable with and who has experience treating adults.