Getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Many people seek a diagnosis after realizing they are struggling at work or with relationships because of ADHD. NIMH suggests that people seeking diagnosis talk to their primary care physician or a mental health professional.
They will ask for an extensive medical history as well as conduct tests such as symptom rating scales and psychological tests. They might also undergo an examination to rule out medical issues that may be a sign of ADHD, such as thyroid problems or seizures.
Diagnosis
It can be a great relief and eye-opening to receive an diagnosis of ADHD, but it can also be a source of anxiety. Adults who have struggled with the symptoms of ADHD for a long time may decide to seek a professional opinion, prompted by frustrations at work or in relationships or due to being informed by family or friends that they may be suffering from ADHD. It's important to remember that it takes time for a medical professional to determine an ADHD diagnosis and the process includes more than just a series of clinical interviews or tests.
The first step is to determine whether your ADHD symptoms match the criteria for the disorder. A number of these symptoms are present before the age of 12. They occur in multiple settings, for instance, at home, school, and work. They interfere with daily functioning.
Because symptoms of ADHD can also be caused by mood disorders like bipolar or anxiety and other physical ailments and illnesses, your healthcare provider may want to do additional tests prior to making an assessment. This might include clinical interviews as well as rating scales to assess symptoms, as well as psychological tests to evaluate your thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, and memory.
It's important to be completely honest with your mental health professional, and that might mean talking about how the struggles you're experiencing in various areas of your life have affected your mood. The professional who is evaluating your mental health you may also ask to speak with your spouse, family members and friends to get more insight into your issues. They might even ask for permission to have them fill out questionnaires about their experiences with you and then compare them to your own.
Signs and symptoms
Adults suffering from ADHD often experience difficulties with daily life activities, particularly at work and in school. They may have trouble keeping their jobs or maintaining relationships. They may also find it difficult to pay the bills because of their lack of attention and impulsivity, making it difficult for them to remember things, manage tasks or complete projects. The symptoms may be mild, moderate or even severe.
To determine ADHD the professionals use standard tools such as checklists, questionnaires and interview questions. They also check the family and medical history of the person and consider other mental health problems. If a person has several of the 9 symptoms, their provider uses guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) to assign a diagnosis: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type.
The signs of an inattentive personality include difficulty paying attention to details, daydreaming and seeming to be easily distracted. Trouble following and finishing tasks and a tendency lose the track of time or become distracted are also signs of inattention.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type often fidget, move around frequently and have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. adult adhd diagnoses tend to forget things quickly and often have trouble organizing their work, home or daily activities. They may lose phones, keys and wallets, or papers frequently. They struggle to wait for their turn at school, at work or play. They are easily frustrated or stressed and have frequent mood swings.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to have co-existing disorders like oppositional defiant or conduct disorders, anxiety, depression, tic disorders, Tourette syndrome and issues with substance abuse. The presence of co-occurring disorders can make it difficult to treat and make it harder to identify ADHD.
Treatment
Talking to your primary care physician is the first step to getting a diagnosis when you suspect that you suffer from ADHD. They may refer you to a specialist in mental health. They will assess your symptoms and issues in the workplace at school, at home or at home to determine how much they interfere with your life. They might conduct a structured interview or ask family members or close friends to assist. They will also go over the medical and family history of your family and will conduct a physical examination.
Your doctor will also consider the length of time you've been experiencing these symptoms, and the impact they affect your life today. To be considered to have ADHD, symptoms must be present for at least six months and cannot be explained by other conditions like anxiety or depression. They must also interfere with daily tasks such as getting to school, finishing assignments on time, or sustaining a career.
During your examination Your mental health specialist may employ standardized behavior rating scales and ADHD symptoms checklists. They will likely also conduct a cognitive test to check your executive functioning and spatial and visual abilities. They will also test for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as seizures or thyroid issue.
If your mental health provider determines that you have ADHD, they will discuss the available medications and treatment options. Often the combination of medication and talk therapy (counseling) is the best. Therapy can assist you in managing your symptoms, and also improve communication between family members and coworkers. It can also help with issues that can arise in marriages and relationships due to the difficulties ADHD can create.
Medication
The signs of ADHD in adults are typically much milder than they were in childhood, however they can still create problems at home and work. The disorder can lead to problems in obtaining or maintaining the job you want, issues with social relationships and interactions and academic failures, low self-esteem emotional stress, temper tantrums and antisocial behavior.
Medication can help treat the disorder by increasing and balancing levels of brain chemicals referred to as neurotransmitters that control the flow of information within the brain. Stimulants are the most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD in adults. Examples include Jornay (methylphenidate extended-release tablets), Xelstrym (dextroamphetamine extended-release oral suspension), Cotempla (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release orally disintegrating tablet) and Adhansia (methylphenidate hydrochloride immediate-release orally disintegrating tablet). The non-stimulant atomoxetine, a non-stimulant antidepressants like bupropion, are also used to treat ADHD in adults. These drugs work more slowly than stimulants, and could be more suitable for people who are unable to take stimulants because of health problems or severe adverse reactions.
Psychotherapy (also called cognitive-behavioral therapy) could be beneficial in treating disorders that are comorbid to ADHD like anxiety and depression. Research suggests that psychotherapy can be a more effective treatment for these disorders than just using medications alone. Psychotherapy is primarily focused on teaching strategies to manage the disorder as well as improving the performance at school, at work and in relationships. The aim is to boost the self-esteem of the person and decrease the risk of problematic behavior. It is also a way to increase their efficiency and performance. It is advised that all psychotherapy strategies for adult ADHD patients incorporate a cognitive-behavioral element. Researchers found that ADHD patients who received both therapy and medication showed more improvement than those who only took pills.
Counseling
Adults who don't want to take medication can get relief from counseling and therapy. Individual therapy can address issues like low self-esteem, and feelings of failure that are often associated with ADHD. It can also improve relationships and communication by helping the patients and their families to comprehend the condition and develop strategies for dealing with it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching patients skills to control their behavior and change negative thoughts. This type of treatment can reduce symptoms of inattentive ADHD and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, as well as comorbid mood disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Therapists can also concentrate on developing time-management and organizational skills, or teach coping mechanisms to deal with impulse control, emotional regulation, and relationship problems caused by an impulsive behavior. These techniques can aid people in living a more productive and satisfying life, particularly at work.
Counseling can assist people with ADHD apply for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This can help improve their work performance and overall satisfaction. For professionals, this may be a matter of changing the way their work is structured so that they have more flexibility to meet deadlines and finish tasks on time.
It is important to choose the best therapist for adult ADHD treatment. It is important to inquire about the therapist's method and whether they have successfully dealt with ADHD in adults is essential when interviewing potential therapists. Examining the credentials of therapists and insurance coverage is also an excellent idea. Some providers have an affordable sliding scale fee or provide online therapy which make therapy accessible to those who can't afford to pay out from their pockets.