Getting a Diagnosis of ADHD in Adults
There are adults who may not be aware of ADHD symptoms. Being diagnosed as an adult can give possibilities for treatment.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five persistent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity. These symptoms should significantly interfere with daily functioning at work, at home, and socially. Talk therapy can help improve the communication skills and problem solving abilities. Family and marital counseling can also be helpful.
Signs and symptoms
You might feel that you're not doing enough to fulfill your full potential if suffer from ADHD symptoms. You may feel overwhelmed as an adult due to the responsibilities you have to fulfill. You could be working full-time or caring for elderly parents or children, or managing household chores.
Your difficulty in keeping up may result in embarrassment, frustration, hopelessness and a loss of confidence. It's not your problem if you have ADHD. It's important to realize that there are solutions to your issues. The first step is an assessment.
A medical professional can detect ADHD in adults by performing a thorough psychiatric evaluation. This may include speaking to you about your symptoms, requiring you to complete standardized scales for assessing behavior and ADHD symptoms checklists, and gathering details about your medical and psychiatric history. The doctor may inquire about the background of ADHD in your family.
To qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD, you must have experienced at least five persistent symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. These symptoms must have occurred prior to age 12 and have continued to impact your life. You must also be experiencing difficulty with these behaviors at the very least in two different settings such as school, work and social relationships.
You could miss appointments, make careless errors at work or home and fail to meet your obligations if your lack of attention is a problem. You might have difficulty managing your finances and health and may have a hard working through everyday tasks, like making sure you take your medication on time or going to the doctor for a checkup.
People who suffer from ADHD can make difficult situations worse by acting before they think. You might interrupt conversations, respond to questions before others are done or struggle to wait in the line. Your impulsive behavior could lead to dangerous activities, like driving too quickly or spending money in a reckless manner.
According to research, genetics and environment are key factors in the development of ADHD. The symptoms of ADHD tend to be passed down through the family, and some researchers believe that problems with your central nervous system at critical developmental stages increase your risk.
Diagnosis
A health professional who specializes in ADHD can help evaluate adults with symptoms of the disorder. A typical assessment includes an interview and a review of medical documents, school or work records, family medical histories, and a mental screening. A specialist may also conduct a physical examination and/or laboratory tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. For an adult or adolescent to be diagnosed with ADHD symptoms, they must be present for at least six months and cause significant impairment to daily life functions.
People who aren't diagnosed or treated for ADHD might struggle throughout their lives with persistent issues that could have been avoided or treated. This can cause depression, family problems, work-related or financial stress, addiction to drugs and even serious accidents such as motor vehicle accidents.
Many people who are not diagnosed with ADHD are at risk of being misunderstood by family members, friends and coworkers. They may be viewed by others as lazy, unreliable or as a poor employee. In addition, people who have undiagnosed ADHD are at greater risk of developing depression and anxiety.
Women are more adept at concealing ADHD symptoms than men. This can make it more difficult to get a proper diagnosis. They might use distractions or daydreaming in order to hide their inattentiveness and impulsivity. Sometimes, they depend on strategies and tools to make up for their poor time management and disorganization. Women with ADHD might also have trouble in recognizing their symptoms, since they are more likely than men to exhibit hyperactive or inattention symptoms.
It's important to keep in click here mind that ADHD is not an indicator of intelligence. It's simply a different way to think and behave that could cause difficulties in certain situations.
Adults may exhibit different symptoms in comparison to children. Adults who suffer from ADHD still fit the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association.
Treatment
Undiagnosed ADHD can make it difficult for people to stay organized and complete their work or school assignments, and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships. These symptoms can affect daily functioning and cause emotional issues like depression, anxiety, or changes in mood. People with hyperactivity or impulsive variants of the disorder may seem agitated and may try to accomplish several things at once, and fail to finish tasks or meet deadlines. They may not pay attention to others, which could lead to misunderstandings or relationship problems.
ADHD is usually not acknowledged in the early years and a lot of adults with the symptoms aren't aware that they have it. Instead of struggling to keep pace in school and everyday life they might have been labeled a dreamer or a slacker. As responsibilities increase in adulthood however, many who suffer from ADHD experience their symptoms becoming worse. They're not able to manage all the balls at once such as pursuing a career or caring for their family, while also keeping up with chores at home and errands and maintaining romantic and social relationships.
A mental health professional or health care provider will determine if a patient is suffering from ADHD. The evaluation usually includes conversations with family members and friends, as well as other people who are familiar with the person and a physical examination, and a review of the person's medical and psychiatric history. The person could also be asked to complete standard ADHD rating scales or an assessment checklist for symptoms. Psychological testing can be used to measure working memory, executive function, and visual and spatial abilities.
Stimulant drugs are the most common treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. These medications balance and boost levels of brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters. They can help those with ADHD focus better, organize their lives and remember important information. They also help control impulse-driven behaviors. Other treatments for ADHD include non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine or antidepressants. They work more slowly than stimulants but still aid in the treatment of ADHD. People who have certain health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure, should talk to their doctor before taking stimulants.
Certain adults suffering from ADHD might benefit from behavior therapy, coaching self-help groups, or vocational counseling. These programs can help adults learn how to cope with their symptoms, and how to build healthy family, school and work relationships. Clinical trials will also be conducted with adults with ADHD. These studies allow scientists to gain knowledge about how to diagnose, treat and prevent disorders like ADHD.
Follow-up
A thorough evaluation of adult ADHD using a variety of assessment tools can improve the accuracy of diagnosis and decrease the risk of a misdiagnosis. The process often includes an extended interview with a psychiatrist or psychologist who is experienced in treating ADHD in adults. The evaluator may also ask about the history of your child's or your own health issues, family dynamics, and lifestyle choices. The evaluator will also go through your past medical records and conduct physical examination.
Many people who suffer from ADHD also suffer from other psychiatric disorders or medical conditions, such depression and anxiety, which need to be treated. In fact, it's estimated that people who suffer from ADHD are six times more likely to suffer from mood disorders than the rest of us. People who suffer from ADHD also have a higher risk of substance abuse.
Adults with ADHD have a tough to find and keep a job. They also have a difficult managing their finances and staying on top of household tasks. Adults with ADHD are at increased risk for developing other health problems, including heart disease, obesity, and smoking. They are also more likely to be prone to bad eating habits and to struggle to maintain and form romantic relationships.
In one study, those with ADHD who were treated in mental health services as children were diagnosed with ADHD as they grew older. The sample size was small. An expansion of the sample could provide more information about the pathology of ADHD in adulthood and its connection with other psychiatric disorders.
Research has shown that ADHD is a long-lasting permanent disorder that is seen in adults. It can have a negative impact on quality of life and can cause range of comorbidities, such as learning disabilities, mood disorders as well as alcohol and drug abuse. People with untreated ADHD are at a greater chance of being in prison and divorce, being less socioeconomically stable and more serious mental health issues.
It is recommended that all adults with a new diagnosis or uncontrolled symptoms of ADHD be evaluated within 30 days and every month after that until their symptoms are controlled. Adults with ADHD might need to continue receiving pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy for the rest their lives.