24-Hours To Improve How To Get Diagnosed With ADHD
Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their personal or professional lives may benefit from a diagnosis of ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.
It is not uncommon for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. NIMH provides guidelines on how to talk with your doctor about the condition.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is often the first step towards gaining control over symptoms that wreak havoc on one's personal and professional lives. First, you should consult your GP or a mental health professional who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP does not have any experience with ADHD or other disorders, they could refer you to psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct an assessment.
Typically an expert in mental health will use the six-question ADHD screener to determine whether you may be suffering from the condition, according to Adler. Then, he will ask you questions about your symptoms and review your family history and medical history to confirm that other medical conditions are not causing your ADHD-like symptoms.
Since people with ADHD tend to miss details and get easily distracted, they frequently struggle with following directions or listening during class or at work. They are often unable to locate important items for tasks or activities such as keys, wallets and other tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused when they are reading long speeches or assignments. Fidgeting, excessive talking or texting, or squirming, are other symptoms of adult ADHD.
It is important to rule out other conditions in determining if a person has adult ADHD. This includes depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Stress and certain physical conditions like thyroid problems can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD. The DSM-5 is now requiring professionals to assess how severe a person's symptoms are when determining if they have diagnosed him or her with the condition. Mild moderate, severe and mild are the categories used to describe adult ADHD.
Many people suffering from ADHD have a lifelong struggle without ever getting a diagnosis because it's not evident in the early years. A diagnosis can alter the course of a person's life because they now understand the reasons why they struggled in school and failed to reach their full potential at work or home. They may feel guilt-ridden for blaming their troubles on others or themselves and may experience grief over lost opportunities that could have been achieved when they were properly treated.
Treatment
The first step in obtaining treatment for ADHD as an adult is to see the healthcare professional to have an assessment. This can be conducted in person or by video calls. In the UK only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The doctor 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 physical and mental conditions that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. These conditions must be eliminated in order to make a diagnosis.
The expert will inquire about your lifestyle and work, as well as how your symptoms affect your daily life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you displayed symptoms of ADHD before age 12 years old. They may also interview people who were close to you as a child and inquire about their childhood memories.
A thorough medical history can aid your doctor to determine whether you require medication or any other treatment. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, including sleep apnea, thyroid issues and lead poisoning may cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults with a history of depression or anxiety may need more careful evaluation and treatment because these conditions can be co-existing with ADHD.
If a professional believes that you need medication, he/she will prescribe the right medication. The type of medication you will require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the way they impact your daily life. Stimulants, the most common medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. However, they are not for everyone, and the first one you try may not be effective or have bothersome adverse side effects. Your healthcare provider might ask if you are taking any other medications. This includes over-the-counter medications or supplements as well as prescription drugs. Certain types of drugs can interfere with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial part of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal better with feelings of anger and failure that are often associated untreated ADHD. It can help you learn to control your anger, as well as improve your time management and organization skills.
It is crucial to find a healthcare professional that specializes in mental illness. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD however, you may prefer to see a specialist therapist or psychologist. These professionals will likely have more experience with adult ADHD and their struggles and also have experience working with other clients. You can search ADDitude or your local mental health service to find a professional that assists adults with ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the first step towards managing your symptoms and improving life. If you've found it difficult to reach your full potential at work, find it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to finish tasks at home and at work, a diagnosis of ADHD might be the solution you've been looking for.
ADHD treatment for adults begins with a thorough interview and review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've been experiencing. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines whether you meet the requirements for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) which is 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 with untreated ADHD are frequently co-morbid with other disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. A constant stress and anger over poor performance can also result in feelings of low self-esteem, he adds. "Getting a diagnose can help these individuals understand the causes of their struggles. This may alleviate or eliminate their anxiety and help them focus on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with a combination of medications and behavior therapy. The stimulants help improve concentration, reduce the risk of impulsive behavior, and help with organization. These medications can improve moods and boost motivation in a variety of cases. Side effects of stimulants include insomnia and difficulty eating or drinking enough. Certain people who use stimulants to treat ADHD can have mood swings that could be difficult for them to manage.
Talk to your doctor about whether or not you are eligible for clinical trials of new medications or treatments. These studies help researchers discover better methods to detect and treat illnesses, as well as prevent them from occurring.
Counseling
If you're suffering from untreated ADHD it could cause various problems in every area of your life. Your relationships, work and financial health can be negatively affected by procrastination and poor time management, impulsive spending and other symptoms. The first step to reducing the negative effects and getting control back is to obtain an assessment and seek treatment.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD didn't receive a diagnosis as children, because their parents and teachers were unaware of the condition or they had minor symptoms that were not noticed. Others might have been able to manage their symptoms in childhood but struggled later in life when their family and work responsibilities increased.
To be diagnosed as having ADHD mental health professionals must find that your symptoms are causing severe impairment in at least two aspects of your life. In the event of an impairment, you could lose your job due to a lack in focus and organization skills, or women being placed on academic probation at your college because you are unable to do well on tests.
Women are more adept at avoiding their symptoms than men, which may make it difficult to receive a diagnosis. However, if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms that are affecting your life at work and at home and family life, women speaking openly about them with your doctor can help accelerate the process and allow you to benefit from reasonable accommodations under the ADA and other workplace laws.
Whatever kind of ADHD you suffer from the mental health professional will verify that your symptoms were present prior to the age of 12. They may request that you speak to people who knew you at this period and could perform a series of tests to evaluate your memory and attention levels.
When you receive a diagnosis the therapist will suggest the use of a combination of medication and non-medical treatments to treat your symptoms. Most people will try several different methods before they discover the one that works for them. Keep a log of your progress, and consult your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan if needed.
