Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult

Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.

Most people suffering from ADHD suffer from symptoms from the age of three, and it’s not unusual to be diagnosed with it as an adult. NIMH offers guidelines on how to talk with your doctor about the condition.

Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is usually the first step towards gaining control over the symptoms that cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional lives. The first step is to talk with your GP or find an expert in mental health who has expertise in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD, he or she may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for assessment.

A mental health professional will usually employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you are suffering from the condition. He or she will then interview you about your ADHD-like symptoms and look over your medical history and family history to determine if other medical conditions aren’t the cause of them.

adult adhd diagnosis uk suffering from ADHD tend to be easily distracted and forgetting important details. They may have trouble adhering to instructions in classes or at work. They often lose things that are essential for their work or activities, including tools, wallets, and keys. They may also have trouble staying focused during long lectures or reading assignments. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, talking or texting frequently or squirming around in the seat.

It is important to rule out other medical conditions when determining if someone has adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical conditions like thyroid problems can also be a source of ADHD symptoms. The DSM-5 now requires doctors to consider the severity of a person’s symptoms are when diagnosing the condition. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.

Many people with ADHD are not diagnosed in childhood because it is not evident. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing event as they realize why they struggled in school and never seemed to reach their potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty about blameing other people or themselves for their troubles, and they may be devastated by missed opportunities that could have been if they were treated properly.

Treatment

To receive treatment for ADHD in adults the first step is to talk with a healthcare professional. This can be done in person or through a video call. Only psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The professional will need to know your medical history and your family’s mental health issues. This is because there are many physical and mental conditions that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD. These conditions need to be ruled out in order to determine if you have ADHD.

The doctor will also inquire about your work and lifestyle and how your symptoms influence your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you showed signs of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years. They may also want to interview people who were close to you as a child and ask about their memories.

A detailed medical history can aid your doctor in determining whether you require medication or another treatment. Certain medical conditions, like sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, and lead poisoning, can trigger ADHD symptoms. Adults who have an history of depression or anxiety may need more careful evaluation and treatment, because these conditions are often associated with ADHD.

If the professional believes you need medication, they will prescribe a suitable medicine. The kind of medication you need will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they impact your life. Stimulants are the most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD. However, they’re not suitable for everyone and the first stimulant you try might not be effective or trigger uncomfortable adverse side effects. Your healthcare provider might ask whether you are taking other medication. This includes over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and prescription drugs. Certain kinds of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.

Counseling is an essential part of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope better with feelings of frustration and failure that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can teach you how to manage your anger, and improve your time management and organizational abilities.

It is essential to find an expert in healthcare who specializes in mental illnesses. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to consult an expert psychologist or therapist. These professionals are likely to be more familiar with the challenges of treating adult ADHD and have had experience in helping others who have similar issues. You can contact your local mental health clinic or consult ADDitude’s directory of professionals to find a specialist who works with adults with ADHD.

Medication

If you are an adult who has had to deal with ADHD getting a diagnosis is the first step to managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life. If you’re struggling to achieve your maximum potential in your work or have trouble maintaining relationships, or have trouble completing tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis may be just what you require.

ADHD treatment for adults starts with an extensive interview and a review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines if you satisfy 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 often afflicted with disorders such as anxiety and depression. These conditions can cause or worsen the symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He says that stress and frustration due to low performance can cause feelings of low-self-esteem. “Getting diagnosed can help these individuals gain a perspective on the causes of their struggles. This can help to reduce or eliminate their anxieties and help them focus more effectively on areas in which they excel,” Jaksa states.

The most effective treatment for adults with ADHD is usually an amalgamation of medication and behavior therapy. The stimulants help improve concentration, reduce the risk of impulsive behavior, and help with organization. In many instances these drugs can improve mood and increase motivation. Side effects of stimulants include insomnia and difficulty eating or drinking enough. The mood swings can also happen in people who are taking stimulants for ADHD, and these can be difficult to manage.

Consult your physician about whether or not you are an eligible participant in clinical trials of new medicines or treatments. These studies assist researchers in finding more effective methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.

Counseling

If you’re suffering from untreated ADHD, it can cause many issues throughout your life. Procrastination and other signs can negatively impact your relationships and career as well as financial health. Finding a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step to reduce the negative impact and regaining control over your life.

Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD did not receive a diagnosis when they were children because their family and teachers were unaware of the disorder or they had minor symptoms that weren’t noticed. Some might have been able to manage their symptoms in childhood but struggled in adulthood as their family and work responsibilities increased.

In order to be diagnosed with ADHD mental health professionals must discover that your symptoms are causing severe impairment in at least two aspects of your life. The effects of ADHD can include losing your job due to a deficit in organization and focus or being placed on academic probation at your college due to your inability to study for tests.

Women are generally better in hiding their symptoms than men, which can make it difficult to receive a diagnosis. If you suffer from ADHD symptoms that affect your life at work or at home it is possible to accelerate the process of diagnosis by being honest with your doctor. You may also be able to get reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.

Your mental health professional, regardless of the type of ADHD you suffer from, will be looking to determine if your symptoms began before the age of 12. They may ask to talk to people who were close to you at the time, and they might also conduct a series of tests to test your attention and memory.

If you’re given the diagnosis, your therapist will recommend a combination of medication and non-medication therapies to manage your symptoms. A majority of patients will try a variety of different methods before they discover the one that works for them. Keep a record of your progress and visit your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan if needed.