ADHD Adults Diagnosis: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Adults Diagnosis of ADHD
A diagnosis of ADHD is an important first step in managing symptoms that cause havoc at work, home and in relationships. It can also be a way to see the bigger picture of issues that have been a source of confusion and frustrating for a long time.
Mental health professionals employ ADHD symptoms checklists and standardized scales for assessing behavior during the evaluation process to determine if an adult fits the diagnostic criteria. They can also interview family members and significant others to gain more insight.
1. Speak to Your Health Care Provider
If you've experienced problems at work or in your relationships and think ADHD is the cause, the first step toward getting a diagnosis and treatment is to speak with your health healthcare provider. Your doctor will be able to help you make sense of your symptoms and recommend a specialist if necessary.
You can also ask your family members, friends and co-workers to recommend professionals who are experts in ADHD evaluations of adults. You can also inquire from your insurance company regarding professionals in your area. Another option is to go to an ADHD support group and talk with others who face similar challenges and to learn how they manage these challenges.
Many adults seek out a diagnosis when their symptoms hinder their day-to-day performance at home or at work. They are tired of having keys stolen, being late for meetings, and having trouble maintaining healthy relationships. You can take control of these signs by obtaining a diagnosis.
Be honest when you talk to your doctor about the symptoms. Do not hide your feelings because you don't want to appear unreliable or weak. Your doctor needs a full picture of your problems and how they've affected your work performance and personal life.
If your doctor suggests taking medication, be ready to discuss your opinion on it. Some adults aren't keen to use medication and prefer other treatments like psychotherapy (the medical term for mental health therapy) and lifestyle adjustments known as accommodations. Accommodations enable people with ADHD to reach their goals, just as a step stool allows those who are smaller to be as tall as the rest of us.
Your doctor will inquire about your history of ADHD. It is best to recall specific details from your childhood, 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. But, these things aren't a guarantee of a diagnose.
2. Request a reference
Your family doctor can refer you undergo an ADHD evaluation and treatment if you have any concerns about how your behaviors are impacting your school, work or relationships. They might also be able to provide you referrals for other specialists, like psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in treating adults with ADHD.
When you visit a specialist for an evaluation, be sure to be honest and honestly about your problems, including those that are related to ADHD. It is important to not hide information out of fear of shame or being judged. The quality of your evaluation and the efficacy of any treatment you recommend will be largely determined by how precise your history is.
The examiner will examine your emotional, social and academic background as well as discuss how these problems affect you today. They will also go over the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic guidelines in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," fifth edition (DSM-5). They will inquire about your current symptoms as well as any other symptoms you might have experienced in the past. They will interview you and if possible, also speak with people who knew you as a kid.
They will determine if your symptoms can be more likely to be explained by another medical condition or mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. They will also determine if you have a learning disability or any other neurodevelopmental disorder.
If a medical professional doesn't believe that you suffer from ADHD then they will inform you what other conditions or issues might be causing your difficulties and the reason they don't think you have ADHD. This does not mean you have to accept the 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 suffering from ADHD and their families as well as friends, co-workers as well as teachers and coaches. They may also benefit from therapy, classes that teach communication skills, or couple and marriage counseling. Individuals who suffer from ADHD typically struggle with low self-esteem, and counseling can help boost their confidence and teach them ways to improve their skills in managing relationships.
3. Contact us to schedule a consultation
ADHD is caused either by a lack or imbalance of neurotransmitters that regulate brain activity. This can interfere with the ability of an individual to pay attention and complete tasks. Adults with untreated ADHD may struggle in their jobs or relationships, as well as other aspects of their lives. If you think you might be suffering from ADHD consult your health care provider or ask for an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in mental health.
A mental health professional will evaluate whether you suffer from ADHD symptoms by using an assessment scale. They might also interview significant people in your life, such as your spouse, and fill out an assessment checklist for symptoms. A thorough examination could include psychological tests that test working memory, executive function (the capacities involved in planning and making decisions) as well as spatial and visual ability and reasoning abilities. The results will aid in determining other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, for example depression and anxiety.
During the examination, your healthcare professional will also consider how you have dealt with your symptoms over the course of time. If you tend to forget appointments, make impulsive choices and fail to meet deadlines, your doctor might suggest therapy or classes to help you develop more effective ways to deal with these issues. Your doctor could also suggest medication. The most popular stimulant medications used to treat ADHD for adults are highly effective. However, they aren't for everyone, and may cause side effects. Nonstimulant medicines that do not have the potential to abuse are now available. They can be as effective as stimulants.
While getting a diagnosis and treatment are important for those suffering from ADHD but it's also important to inform others about the disorder. Many people with ADHD have a difficult time getting their spouses, parents, and their colleagues to accept their behavior. adhd diagnosis adult uk to educate others can improve relationships and strengthen support systems. There are ADHD support groups in many communities as well as online.
It can be challenging to identify ADHD in adults however, it is doable. Start by talking to your GP who can guide you to the most appropriate treatment for your needs.
4. Schedule an Evaluation
It can take a while to get a thorough evaluation and a diagnosis. Ask for an appointment with your primary care physician, but should your GP is hesitant or does not consent to refer you to other health professionals. You can contact your local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or CHADD to find out who in your area specializes in adult ADHD. Also, you can contact professional organizations which support adults suffering from ADHD.
Prepare yourself for a detailed and lengthy discussion about your symptoms and how they affect your life. The evaluator will review your medical, personal and family history, as well as the problems you're experiencing right now. They'll likely be interested in how the symptoms have impacted your relationships as well as your work performance and financial situation. They could use standardized rating scales to compare your behavior with those of people with ADHD. These ratings can help them determine if your symptoms are caused by ADHD or are better explained by another disorder, like anxiety or depression.
Your evaluator will likely also conduct cognitive tests to determine if you have intellectual or learning impairments which could be the reason for your struggles at school or at work. Some evaluators screen for conditions that can produce symptoms similar to ADHD and thyroid disorders, for example or seizures disorders.
Certain evaluators may request additional physical examinations or laboratory testing, such as brain imaging and blood tests, to rule out other health problems. They may ask you to complete a questionnaire that looks for specific signs, like difficulties in organizing and planning or being too active and hyperactive. They could also interview your family members or your friends about your childhood to look for evidence that you have ADHD.
It is important to be honest during the interview. Many adults are uncomfortable asking for a diagnosis, and they may not divulge information, believing that it will make their appearance worse. It is crucial that the evaluator is given accurate information regarding your struggles in terms of impulse control, organizational skills and relationships.