Adult ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
Ask your primary health care provider for a referral if you think you might have ADHD. You can also ask your friends and family for recommendations or search online to find professionals who are qualified to evaluate ADHD.
A professional will ask you questions about your current symptoms. However, under current guidelines, a diagnosis can't be made without also considering your childhood history. Your specialist may ask to speak with your teachers, parents or other adults who knew you when you were an infant.
Understanding Your Symptoms
Many people with ADHD do not know they have the condition until adulthood. They might not have been diagnosed as children and have difficulty coping with issues at school, at work or at home. A diagnosis and treatment plan will assist people restore their lives to order.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently have trouble staying focused, planning or paying attention to detail. They tend to act on impulse and are easily distracted. They might also find it difficult to endure activities that bore them, and frequently shift their focus from one task to another. This could lead to unplanned events, poor time management and frequent blunders at school or work.
The symptoms of adult adhd are different for each person. It is common for them to manifest in the early years of childhood, but may also manifest as the adolescent years or even as adults. To be considered to have the disorder the symptoms must be present for at minimum six months and cause significant difficulty in a variety of situations.
In some cases the doctor may review school reports to find out if there are any comments about behavior problems or a inability to work or underachievement compared to your potential. The doctor may also ask the person being evaluated to speak with their parents. It's important that adults who are being assessed for ADHD discuss their concerns openly and honestly with their clinician. They shouldn't hide their feelings because of fear of embarrassment or shame.
Women who suffer from ADHD are often overlooked or misdiagnosed because their symptoms aren't as obvious as those of males. Their struggles are often concealed because of the responsibilities of caring for children, or performing more traditional gender-specific roles. Symptoms of ADHD for women include forgetting or being unable to focus on important tasks, being slow to finish work on time, making numerous 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 suffering from ADHD are able to achieve success in their professional and personal lives. They just need to learn how to handle their challenges and take advantage of the help that is available. They can also implement strategies that will assist them in their goals, such as the use of a planner or calendar, as well as phone apps that have reminders.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
The symptoms of adult ADHD can be difficult to distinguish from normal problems that occur in daily life, like forgetting appointments or slipping up on tasks. However, the difference is important because, if left untreated, unmanaged or mistreated the disorder could lead to serious work and social problems, including financial difficulty and strained relationships.
A mental health professional who has specific training and experience in treating ADHD can diagnose the condition. This includes psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and doctors (such neurologists, psychiatrists or family doctors who specialize in psychiatry or neurology). Professionals who are certified are also acquainted with co-existing disorders that typically occur alongside ADHD such as anxiety and depression.
A thorough evaluation to determine if a person has ADHD will involve an in-depth interview to go over the patient's medical, personal and family background. The interview will include questions about the effects of ADHD symptoms on one's job 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 personal or professional life since the time of their childhood. These can often reveal patterns that indicate ADHD. For instance, many people with ADHD shift jobs frequently and have trouble forming close relationships. Adults with ADHD often have trouble managing their finances and often spend more than they should.
In certain situations an evaluation for adults with ADHD might include additional tests such as psychological, neuropsychological or learning disabilities tests to rule out other causes of the individual's issues. A person suffering from ADHD could also have one of the learning disorders, such as dyscalculia, dyslexia or dyscalculia. In these situations, accommodations--tools or changes in the environment that help manage a disability--may be helpful.
Certain people with ADHD may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy and/or psychotherapy in addition to lifestyle changes and treatment strategies. These therapies can help people understand their own disruptive behavior and thoughts and develop coping mechanisms to manage these issues.
Get Help
Many people suffering from ADHD suffer from the same problems similar to those they faced as children such as problems with relationships and at work, difficulty completing their schoolwork or finding work. Often these problems result in medical referrals for a diagnosis and treatment. adhd diagnosis uk adult for a lot of people is to consult their primary care provider. They will likely recommend you to an expert in mental health who has experience diagnosing adult ADHD.
Your doctor will perform an extensive examination to determine if you suffer from ADHD or another condition that may cause symptoms that mimic ADHD. They will interview you, go over your behavior and history, ask about family and medical background, and employ psychiatric rating scales and questionnaires. The doctor will also check your physical health including your heartbeat and blood pressure. Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms are stress, depression, and anxiety and also certain medications and addiction to substances.
Adults with ADHD often have a hard than others to acknowledge that they suffer from the disorder. They may have learned to conceal their symptoms or make excuses for them, but they still suffer from low self-esteem and confidence. Women are often more adept than men at concealing their symptoms, and may be accustomed to being branded an inept, lazy or a troublemaker.
During an ADHD assessment, your physician will examine your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. They will interview you, along with your family and work colleagues. He or she will use various tools, like old report cards to document childhood ADHD symptoms.
Treatment options for adults with ADHD include pharmacological and behavioral treatments (medication). The most popular treatment for ADHD is medication that aids in the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These include stimulants such as amphetamine, methylphenidate and atomoxetine as well as nonstimulants.
Certain behavioral treatments like cognitive behavior therapy and education on ADHD, can also help. Certain people with ADHD can benefit from a change in their lifestyle by establishing routines, and using a planner or journal. Marriage and family counseling, or a life-coach who can help with time-management and organization skills, can be beneficial for many. Some people suffering from ADHD may also benefit from accommodations at work or in school. This includes extended deadlines and flexible schedules.
Finding Support
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD can be stressful. It could be the first step towards finally getting control of the symptoms that have been affecting your life for many years. The signs of adult ADHD can include trouble staying on top of school or work obligations, loosing important personal items, missing appointments, spending money impulsively and not adhering to instructions from your doctor and many more. These issues can lead to long-term anxiety, depression and feelings of inadequate. A strong support system and following the best practices can make all the difference in the way you deal with your symptoms.
In the past, a lot of people who had ADHD were incorrectly diagnosed. They might have had difficulty finding a job that suited them, or failed their academic pursuits and had trouble finding long-term relationships. They could be overwhelmed by regrets over missed opportunities or lost moments.
A thorough interview with a mental healthcare specialist is typically required to diagnose adult ADHD. If possible family members are included in the interview. In addition, the patient is required 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.
Based on the individual and their symptoms, additional tests in neuropsychology or psychotherapy could be required. This test can provide more information about the ways the individual's ADHD affects their lives and help determine if there are any co-existing conditions that require treatment.
Treatment options for adults with ADHD typically involve counseling for psychological issues (psychotherapy) as well as education, and sometimes medication. Psychotherapy assists people to recognize and manage their ADHD and build the skills needed to cope with it. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches people to change negative thinking patterns and behaviors. Marital and family counseling can also be helpful for individuals with ADHD who have difficulties maintaining relationships.
Asking your doctor or specialist to recommend a counsellor is the first step towards finding a qualified counsellor. You can also reach out to the local psychology graduate school or university hospital to get recommendations. Select a psychologist you are comfortable with and has experience treating adults.