Adult Diagnosis of ADHD
For those who suffer from ADHD A diagnosis of ADHD can have a major impact on your life. It can help people recognize the reasons they face difficulties at work, at home and in their relationships.
However it can be a challenge to get a diagnosis as symptoms often overlap with other ailments. A health care provider or a mental health professional will evaluate the patient and run tests.
Symptoms
It is possible that someone may not be aware of having ADHD until they reach the age of adulthood. This may be because parents and teachers failed to detect the signs at an earlier age, or due to the demands of college or work caused the disorder to be revealed. Adults with untreated ADHD are being disadvantaged in their work, school and social lives. Undiagnosed ADHD can lead to many issues including relationship problems as well as financial difficulties.
To diagnose ADHD A mental health professional will talk to the patient and go over the patient's personal medical and psychiatric history with particular attention paid to symptoms in different settings. The patient will be asked to describe how these symptoms affect his or her daily functioning and relationships. It is essential that patients are open about their symptoms and not cover them up to avoid embarrassment.
The mental health professional must also determine if these symptoms are related to other comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety that often coexist with ADHD. These conditions can make the symptoms of ADHD worse, and they can also hinder effective treatment for the disorder.
If the psychiatrist or psychologist believes that the symptoms of ADHD are being impacted by other conditions, additional cognitive, neuropsychological, or testing for learning disabilities could be used to help establish an accurate diagnosis. These tests can also be used to determine the level of impairment to function that these conditions cause. The mental health professional will also conduct interviews with other significant people such as spouses and siblings to get a complete picture of how a person is doing.
Diagnosis
Adults are diagnosed with ADHD by a mental healthcare professional or physician after an exhaustive evaluation. This involves a thorough interview about the causes of the symptoms and their impact on daily functioning and the presence of any other mental health conditions that could co-occur with ADHD like anxiety and mood disorders. The practitioner may also ask to speak with significant others, such as your spouse or a close family member to help them get more details.
Getting a proper diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood can be a life-changing event. The diagnosis gives adults an explanation for the behaviors they believed were "normal". Often, it provides relief knowing that they're not simply naive or oblivious; their problems are more complex.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5) requires that adults meet specific criteria for symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. This is a standard that has been established to ensure that individuals receive the help and treatment they require. To qualify for an ADHD diagnosis, the person must have experienced the symptoms for at least 12 months and they must be causing significant impairment in a variety of settings, including school, at home, or at work; with friends or family or in other settings. For adults age 17 and older the number of needed symptoms has been reduced to five, from the six needed for children under age 12.
A strong relationship with your primary healthcare provider can help you to recognize ADHD. Many physicians regularly diagnose and treat ADHD in children, and can refer you to a mental health professional who is able to perform an evaluation in adults.
Treatment
When a person with ADHD is diagnosed, their life can drastically change. They can finally have some explanations for failures in school or a struggle to find a career or relationship problems. For those who are suffering from depression, it can relieve the anxiety that could have been accumulated over the years of their issues being ignored.
The first step in getting an accurate diagnosis is to talk to a health care professional or mental health professional. They may ask about the family history and conduct a physical exam to rule out other conditions such as sleep disorders or learning disabilities that can cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD. They can also request the person to fill out a checklist of symptoms.
In many cases, the doctor will request that a spouse or partner be interviewed during the process of assessment. This helps the non ADHD spouse or partner to gain an understanding of their loved one's ADHD and a compassionate approach towards those symptoms. This is crucial to improve relationships following diagnosis. If this is not possible, the clinician can interview colleagues or friends who are familiar with the individual.
The main treatment is medication. options for adults suffering from ADHD. Stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin(r)) and dextroamphetamine (Adderall(r)) are the most effective and widely prescribed drugs for treating adult ADHD. Other medications like atomoxetine (Strattera(r),) and guanfacine, (Intuniv (r), Tenex (r)) are able to increase the amount of norepinephrine that is produced in the brain. These drugs can alleviate ADHD symptoms.
Psychotherapy is a different alternative. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can teach patients strategies to manage their ADHD symptoms, such as time management and organizational strategies, self-regulation of behavior and emotions and dealing with negative feelings and self-criticism. Other treatments, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps adults recognize subconscious or unfounded thoughts that lead to negative behavior and learn ways to replace them with positive self-talk.
Medication
Many people find that ADHD medication helps improve their symptoms. The medication is typically in the form a stimulant, and it is effective by increasing the activity of the brain in areas that control the behavior and attention. Methylphenidate is the most popular medicine prescribed to adults with ADHD is available in various forms. It is available in immediate-release tablets as well as modified-release tablet forms that release the medication throughout the day. Clonidine, another type of medicine works by reducing the brain activity. It can be taken as a pill or liquid.
The therapist or psychiatrist will look over the medical and family history of the adult patient in order to determine factors that may cause similar symptoms. This review is important due to the fact that certain medical conditions such as thyroid problems and seizure disorders can cause symptoms similar to those of ADHD. Additionally, certain supplements and medications can cause similar symptoms.
During the assessment during the evaluation, the patient will explain their ADHD symptoms to their psychiatrist or therapist. They will be asked to fill out standardized ADHD rating scales and check lists, as well as complete psychological tests that measure working memory, executive functioning (abilities such as making decisions and planning), visual and spatial capabilities, as well as reasoning skills.
If the therapist believes that ADHD symptoms are seriously affecting a person's quality of life the therapist will recommend medication. In some instances the therapist might request the patient's spouse or partner to interview them about the effects of the symptoms of the patient on their relationship. This can reduce blame between the two people and help to foster healthy, productive relationships.
Counseling
Being diagnosed is a huge relief to many adults with ADHD. It allows them to understand why they are having difficulties at work or school and to understand how to overcome these problems. It's an opportunity to change negative behavior and boost self-esteem.
Counseling can be a wonderful method of helping you create a strong support system. Counseling for ADHD can include psychotherapy (or psychological therapy) and a range of behavior-based interventions. Therapists may create a chart that rewards positive behaviors and imposes punishments for negative behaviors. The therapist can teach the patient techniques to manage symptoms, like relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditative postures in yoga.
Counseling can help people recognize and accept their ADHD. It's not easy to admit you struggle in organizing, planning and paying attention. It can be embarrassing to adhd diagnosis for adults confess that you suffer from ADHD to supervisors or colleagues. However, most teachers and bosses will be willing to make accommodations for your condition. For instance, they may allow you to use a computer for writing assignments instead of paper and give more in-depth explanations of class material.
Additionally the therapist will teach you ways to cope with your ADHD through cognitive behavioral therapy which is a structured type of talk therapy that helps you transform negative thoughts and behaviors into positive ones. Counseling for ADHD can also include marital or family therapy. This teaches loved-ones how to communicate better and resolve problems with someone who suffers from ADHD. People suffering from ADHD may also suffer from other mental disorders, such depression or anxiety and may have substance abuse problems.