Adult ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
If you suspect that you may have ADHD You should ask your primary care doctor for an appointment. You can also ask your friends and family for recommendations or search online to find professionals who are qualified to evaluate ADHD.
Professionals will ask about your symptoms right now but, based on current guidelines, it's impossible to determine the cause without taking into account your childhood history. Your doctor may interview your parents, teachers, or other adults who were familiar with you as a young person.
Understanding Your Symptoms
Many people who suffer from ADHD don't realize they have it until adulthood. They may have missed the diagnosis while they were young and then have to deal with problems at home, work and at school. A diagnosis and treatment plan can help them to get their lives back in order.
Adults suffering from ADHD have trouble focusing on their plans and paying attention to details. They are more likely to act on impulse, and become easily distracted. They may also find it difficult to focus on tasks that are boring and often shift their focus from one task to another. This could lead to them missing important events, poor time management and frequent mistakes at school or at 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 can also appear in an adult or in adolescence. To be diagnosed with the disorder the symptoms must be present for at least six months, and cause significant difficulty in a variety of situations.
A doctor will look over your school report card to determine whether there are any comments about your behavior or lack of effort. The doctor will also ask the person being evaluated to speak with their parents. It is crucial that those who are being assessed for ADHD discuss their concerns in a candid and honest manner with the doctor. They shouldn't be shy out of fear of shame or embarrassment.
Women with ADHD are often omitted or misdiagnosed because their symptoms are less noticeable than those of males. Their struggles can be hidden due to the demands of caring for children or by performing more traditional gender-specific roles. Signs of ADHD for women include forgetting or being unable to focus on important tasks, not being able to finish work on time, making frequent mistakes and lacking focus at work or at school. They are more likely to be fidgety like tapping their feet or moving their legs.
Adults with ADHD are able to achieve success in their personal and professional lives. They need to be able how to handle their challenges and utilize the support that is available. They can also employ strategies that will help them succeed, like the use of a planner or calendar, and phone apps that have reminders.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
It can be difficult to tell the distinction between adult ADHD and other issues that arise in everyday life like forgetting appointments or tasks. But the distinction is important because, if left untreated, mistreated or not properly managed, the disorder can lead to serious work and social problems such as financial difficulties and strained relationships.
In the majority of cases the case, a diagnosis of ADHD is made by an expert in mental health with specialized knowledge and experience in treating the condition. This includes psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, and physicians (such neurologists, psychiatrists or family physicians who specialize in neurology or psychiatry). Professionals who are certified are also acquainted with co-existing illnesses that frequently occur along with ADHD like depression and anxiety.
A test to determine if a person has ADHD will require an in-depth interview to go over the patient's personal, medical and family background. The interview will include questions about how the person's ADHD symptoms impact their work and relationships. It is important for the person to be honest and not hide any information.
It's also a great idea to bring up issues that the person might have faced at work or in their personal life prior to the time of their childhood. In many cases, these issues can reveal patterns that suggest that the person suffers from ADHD. Many people with ADHD struggle to form close bonds and changing jobs often. Adults with ADHD often have trouble managing their finances and often spend more than they should.
In certain cases an assessment of adults with ADHD could include other tests, such as neuropsychological or learning disabilities tests to rule out other causes for the person's difficulty. For instance, a person who suffers from ADHD might also have a learning impairment, like dyscalculia or dyslexia. 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 behavior and/or psychotherapy in addition to lifestyle changes and treatment methods. These treatments can help people identify their own disruptive behavior and thoughts and help them develop strategies to deal with these issues.
Finding Treatment
Many people with ADHD have the same issues as they did as children issues with relationships, and at work, difficulties completing their schoolwork or finding work. These issues often lead to medical referral to get a diagnosis and treatment. The first step for many is to speak to their primary care provider. They will likely refer you to an expert in mental health who is experienced in diagnosing adult ADHD.
Your doctor will conduct an extensive examination to determine whether you suffer from ADHD or another condition that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. He or she will interview you, review your behavior and history of your medical and family history, and utilize questionnaires and psychiatric rating scales. The doctor will also look at your physical health, including blood pressure and heart rate. Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms are stress, depression, and anxiety, as well as certain drugs and substances.
Adults suffering from ADHD typically have a difficult to recognize that they suffer from the disorder. They might have learned to hide their symptoms or to compensate for them but still suffer from low self-esteem and confidence. Women are often better than men in hiding their symptoms. They may have gotten used to being labelled a slacker, goof-off or a troublemaker.
During an ADHD evaluation, your doctor will examine your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. He or she may interview you and your family and colleagues at work. They may also use old report cards to document childhood ADHD symptoms.
Treatment options for adult ADHD include pharmacological and behavioral treatments (medication). The most commonly used treatment for ADHD is medication that aids in the balance of neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals. They include stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate and the non-stimulant Atomoxetine.
Certain behavioral treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy or education on ADHD may also be helpful. Some people with ADHD benefit from lifestyle modifications by establishing routines, and using journals or a planner. Others can benefit from counseling for families and marriages or a life coach who can aid with time management and organizational skills. adhd in adults diagnosis with ADHD may also benefit from a few adjustments in the workplace or school. These include extended deadlines and flexible schedules.
Finding Support
Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD is stressful. It could be the first step towards getting control of the symptoms that be affecting your life for a number of years. The signs of adult ADHD may include difficulty keeping up with school or work obligations, losing important personal items, avoiding appointments, impulsively spending money and not adhering to medical instructions and more. These problems can lead to anxiety, depression and feelings of inadequate. A strong support system and adhering to the best methods can make all the difference in how you deal with your symptoms.
In the past, many people with ADHD were not diagnosed. They might have struggled to find the right job for them, failed their educational pursuits and had trouble finding long-term relationships. They could have many regrets over missed opportunities and lost time.
A diagnosis of adult ADHD typically involves a thorough interview with a mental health professional, including family members should it be possible. The person will also be asked to complete scales and questionnaires as well as talk about their past. 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 psychological or neuropsychological testing may be conducted. This testing can provide more details on how ADHD affects the individual and also help determine if there are co-existing conditions.
Treatment options for adults with ADHD typically involve counseling for psychological issues (psychotherapy), education and sometimes medications. Psychotherapy helps people comprehend and manage ADHD and improve their techniques for managing it. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches people to change negative behavior patterns and thinking patterns. Family and marriage counseling could be beneficial to people with ADHD who have difficulty maintaining relationships.
The first step in locating an experienced counselor is to request a referral from your doctor or a specialist. You can also call an area hospital affiliated with a university or graduate school of psychology to obtain recommendations. Choose a practitioner who you are comfortable with and who has experience in treating adults.