Adults Diagnosis of ADHD
A diagnosis of ADHD is an important first step to manage the symptoms that wreak havoc at home, work and in relationships. It is also a way to gain perspective on problems that have been a source of confusion and frustrating for a long time.
Mental health professionals use ADHD symptom checklists and standardized behavior ratings scales in the process of evaluation to determine if an adult is meeting the diagnostic criteria. They can also interview significant others and family members to gain further insight.
1. Talk to your Health Care Provider
If you have been having problems at work or in your relationships and believe that ADHD is to blame the first step to finding a treatment and diagnosis is to talk to your health healthcare provider. Your doctor can help you understand your symptoms and may refer you to a specialist should you require it.
You can also ask your friends, family and co-workers to suggest professionals who are skilled in ADHD evaluations of adults. You can also inquire from your insurance company about the services available in your region. Another option is to join an ADHD support group to chat with people who have similar challenges and to learn about how they deal with them.
Many adults seek a diagnosis when their symptoms affect their day-to-day functioning at home or at work. They are frustrated with losing keys or being late to meetings and trying to maintain healthy relationships. You can take control of these symptoms by seeking an appointment with a doctor.
If you are discussing your symptoms with your doctor, be honest. Do not hold back your feelings since you do not want to look weak or unreliable. Your doctor will need to be aware of all the issues you have and how they have affected your work performance and personal life.
Be prepared to speak up on medication when your doctor suggests it. Some adults choose to avoid medication and opt for other treatment options, like therapy or lifestyle changes. Accommodations allow those with ADHD to reach their goals, just like a step stool allows those who are smaller to reach the same height as the rest of us.
Your doctor will inquire about your past experiences with ADHD. It is best to recall specific details from your childhood, as this is when the disorder is more likely to show up. You may need to talk to your teachers or other adults from your childhood depending on the location you live in. However, these kinds of things don't necessarily mean that you have the diagnosis.
2. Request a recommendation
If you are concerned about how your conduct is impacting your school, work or your relationships, your family physician might suggest an ADHD assessment and treatment. They may also be able to provide you recommendations for other specialists, including psychologists and psychiatrists who specialize in treating adults suffering from ADHD.
When you visit a specialist for an evaluation, be sure to speak openly and honestly about your problems such as those that are related to ADHD. It is important to not conceal information for fear of fear of being judged. Your history will determine the validity of your assessment as well as the efficacy of any treatment recommendations.
The examiner will review your social, emotional and academic history and discuss how these problems are affecting you right now. They will also review the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," fifth edition (DSM-5). They will ask you about your current symptoms as well as any you might have had in the past. They will also interview you and as much as possible talk to people who knew you before you were a child.
In addition to evaluating whether you meet the criteria for ADHD in addition, they will look at whether your symptoms might be better explained by another mental health issue or medical condition, like anxiety or depression. They will also determine if you have an intellectual disability or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
If a doctor doesn't believe that you have ADHD they will tell what other conditions or issues could be causing your difficulties and why they don't think you suffer from ADHD. This doesn't mean that you have to accept this diagnosis. However it can be helpful in planning your future care.
In many cases, a person who is diagnosed with adult ADHD will receive help from other people with ADHD and their families, as along with co-workers, friends, teachers and coaches. They could also benefit from taking classes in the art of communication, or marriage and couple counseling. Counseling can be beneficial for those who suffer from ADHD who have difficulty gaining confidence. It can teach them how to improve their interpersonal skills.
3. Contact us to schedule a consultation
ADHD can be caused by a lack or imbalance of neurotransmitters that regulate brain activity. This can interfere with an individual's ability to concentrate and complete tasks. Adults who have not been treated for ADHD are likely to struggle with their work, relationships and other aspects of their lives. If you think you might have ADHD, talk to your health care provider or ask for a referral to see an a psychiatrist or psychologist who is trained in mental health.
A mental health professional will evaluate whether you are suffering from ADHD symptoms using a scale of rating. A mental health professional may also conduct an interview with important people in your life like your spouse, and then complete a checklist of symptoms. A thorough assessment could include a psychological test that measures working memory and executive functioning (the abilities that are involved in making decisions and planning) spatial and visual abilities and reasoning skills. The results can be used to rule out conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.
During the assessment, your healthcare professional will also consider how you have managed your symptoms over time. If you tend to forget appointments, make impulsive decisions and fail to meet deadlines, your doctor may suggest therapy or classes in order to assist you in learning more effective ways to deal with these issues. Your doctor may recommend medication, too. The most popular stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in adults are extremely effective. However, they aren't suitable for everyone, and they may cause side effects. Nonstimulant drugs that don't have the potential for be abused are now available. They are as effective as stimulants.
It is essential to educate others on ADHD. While adults with ADHD should be diagnosed and seek treatment as needed, it's also beneficial for them to inform their spouses, parents and colleagues. For example, many adults who suffer from ADHD have spouses, parents and friends are unable to comprehend their behavior. The ability to educate others can improve relationships and boost support systems. There are also ADHD support groups within many communities as well as online.
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD as an adult can be difficult but it's doable. Talk to your GP who can recommend a treatment that is best suited to your needs.
4. Schedule and an Evaluation
It can take some time to get an accurate evaluation and diagnosis. Request adhd uk diagnosis from your primary care doctor, but should your GP is hesitant or does not consent to refer you to other health experts. Call your local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness or CHADD to find the names of local specialists who specialize in adult ADHD, or check with the professional associations that help people with ADHD to find out whether they have any suggestions.
Prepare adhd undiagnosed in adults for a thorough and lengthy conversation about your symptoms and how they impact your life. The evaluator is going to examine your medical family, personal, and medical history and any current problems. They will probably also be interested in how the problems have affected your relationships as well as your work performance and finances. They could employ standardized ratings scales to compare your behavior with that of people who do not have ADHD. These ratings can help you determine whether your symptoms are due to ADHD or if they are more likely to be explained by other disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Your evaluator may also order cognitive tests to identify intellectual or learning impairments which could be the reason for your struggles at school or at work. Certain evaluators will also test for other conditions that could cause symptoms similar to those of ADHD such as thyroid disorders or seizure disorders.
Some evaluators will order additional physical examinations or lab tests, such as brain imaging and blood work to rule out other health issues. They might request you to complete the questionnaire to determine specific symptoms such as difficulty planning and organizing, or being overly energetic and indecisive. They may also ask relatives or friends about your childhood in order to search for information that could indicate that you may have ADHD.
It is important to be honest during the interview. Many adults are embarrassed by asking for a diagnosis, and may be reluctant to divulge information in fear that it will make them look poor. However, it's crucial for a successful diagnosis that the examiner receives accurate information about your issues with organization and impulse control relationships.