Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
For adults who are struggling professionally or personally and are unable to resolve the issue, identifying ADHD could be a crucial step in taking control. A diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation which may include a review of school records and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers.
Most people with ADHD suffer from symptoms from childhood, and it is not unusual to be diagnosed in adulthood. NIMH offers tips on how to talk with your doctor about the condition.
Diagnosis
Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is usually the first step towards gaining control over the symptoms that can cause havoc on a person's professional and personal lives. The first step is to talk with your GP or find a mental health professional who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP doesn't have any experience in treating ADHD, they may recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct an assessment.
A mental health professional will typically employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. Then, he will ask you questions about your symptoms and look at your family history and medical history to confirm that any other conditions are not causing your symptoms of ADHD.
Because people with ADHD are more likely to miss details and get easily distracted, they often have trouble following instructions or listening during class or at work. They often lose important items needed for their tasks such as wallets, keys, and tools. They may also have difficulty staying focused while listening to or reading long speeches. Other signs of adult ADHD include fidgeting, texting or talking excessively or squirming in their seats.
It is important to rule out other medical conditions in determining if a person has adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Stress and other physical ailments such as thyroid issues can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD. In the DSM-5, professionals are now required to take into consideration the severity of a person's symptoms when diagnosing them as having ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.
Many people with ADHD do not receive a diagnosis in childhood because it is not obvious. For adults, a diagnosis could be a life-changing event as they realize the reasons why they struggled at school and never seemed to achieve their full potential at work or at home. Some may even feel guilt-ridden for blaming their troubles on others or themselves and may experience grief over lost opportunities that could have been had when they were properly treated.
Treatment
To seek treatment for ADHD in adults, the first step is to talk with an expert in healthcare. This can be done in person or via video calls. Only psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The professional will need to know your medical history and your family's mental health issues. This is due to the fact that there are a variety of mental and physical ailments that can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. These conditions need to be ruled out in order to make a diagnosis.
The professional will also ask about your work and lifestyle and how your symptoms influence your life. They will be especially interested in if you displayed symptoms of ADHD before the age of 12 years old. They may also want to interview people who were close to you as a child and ask about their experiences.
A thorough medical history can aid your doctor to determine whether you require medication or another treatment. This is because certain medical conditions, like sleep apnea, thyroid issues and lead poisoning may cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults with an underlying history of anxiety or depression might require a more thorough evaluation and treatment, because these conditions often coexist with ADHD.
If a professional believes that you need medication, he/she will prescribe the appropriate medication. The type of medication you will require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the way they impact your life. Stimulants are among the most commonly prescribed medication for ADHD. However, they are not suitable for everyone, and the first one you try may not be effective or trigger unpleasant adverse side effects. Your healthcare provider will be interested in knowing if you are taking any other medications such as over-the-counter medications and supplements, since certain kinds of drugs may interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is an essential aspect of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope with the feelings of failure frustration, underachievement, and anger that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can also help you learn how to manage your anger as well as improve your time management and organization abilities.
If you suffer from mental illness it is crucial to find a healthcare professional who specializes in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to see a specialist therapist or psychologist. These experts are likely to be more familiar with the challenges of treating adult ADHD and have had experience in helping other clients with similar struggles. You can use search engines like ADDitude or your local mental health service to find a professional who works with adults who have ADHD.
adhd diagnosis uk adults
If you are an adult who has been struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, getting a diagnosis is the first step toward managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you're struggling to achieve your full potential in the workplace, have difficulty maintaining relationships, or experience difficulties completing your tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis could be just what you need.
ADHD treatment for adults begins with a thorough interview and review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've experienced. The psychiatrist or psychologist determines whether you meet the requirements for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that persist throughout most of your day and interfere with social, academic or professional functioning.
Adults who are not treated for ADHD often suffer from co-occurring disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. A constant stress and anger over the lack of performance can cause feelings of low self-esteem, he adds. "Getting diagnosed will help them understand the root of their issues. This can help to reduce or eliminate their anxieties and help them focus on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated with a combination of medications along with behavior therapy. The use of stimulants can help improve concentration, reduce impulsive behaviors and help with organization. In many cases they can enhance motivation and mood. People who take stimulants should be aware of possible side effects, which include insomnia and difficulty eating or drinking enough. Also, mood swings can occur in those who take stimulants to treat ADHD, and these can be difficult to manage.
Talk to your health care provider regarding whether you're an ideal candidate for clinical trials of new treatments or drugs. These studies aid researchers in discovering more effective methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
If you are suffering from untreated ADHD it could cause various problems in all areas of your life. Your career, relationships and financial health may be negatively impacted by procrastination or poor time management, impulsive spending, and other signs. The first step to reduce the negative effects and regaining control is to get diagnosed and seek treatment.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD weren't diagnosed as children due to the fact that their families and teachers were unaware of the condition or they showed mild symptoms that were not noticed. Some may have been able to manage their symptoms as children but struggled in adulthood when their work and family obligations increased.
In order to be diagnosed as having ADHD, mental health professionals must discover that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two areas of your life. In the event of an impairment, you could lose your job due to a lack in organization and focus or being placed on academic probation in college because you're unable to concentrate on your tests.
Women are more adept at hiding symptoms than men. This can make it more difficult for women to be diagnosed. However, if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms that affect your home and work life and family life, speaking openly about them with your doctor will help accelerate the process and enable you to get reasonable accommodations under ADA and other workplace laws.
Whatever kind of ADHD you suffer from the mental health professional will want to determine if your symptoms were present before age 12. They might ask you to talk with people who were around you during this time period. They may also perform a series of tests to assess your attention and memory levels.
After receiving a diagnosis, the doctor will suggest a combination of medication and non-medication treatment to help manage your symptoms. Most people will try several different treatments before settling on the most effective one. Keep a journal of your progress and visit your doctor frequently to modify your treatment plan as needed.