Diagnosing ADHD in Adults
A medical professional can diagnose ADHD. This might include the primary care physician psychologist, psychiatrist or psychiatrist.
The diagnosis of ADHD is determined by the severity and frequency of symptoms, as well as the way they affect your daily life. The symptoms must be present since childhood and must cause impairment in more than one environment like work or school.
Identifying Symptoms
Many adults who receive a diagnosis of ADHD have suffered from their symptoms for years, but they might not be aware that they have a mental health condition. Others receive a diagnosis when they discover that their relationships or work performance are being affected. A diagnosis can be a life-changing experience, but can be stressful for those at different stages of their lives.
Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention are among the most frequent ADHD symptoms that adults experience. Someone with ADHD may fidget while listening to an audio lecture or waiting in the line. They may forget things easily, or have trouble finishing tasks in time. Those with ADHD may also have trouble relaxing and become frustrated and emotionally easily.
ADHD symptoms are more apparent in children, whereas the impulsivity and hyperactivity may be less apparent in adults. For example in children, hyperactivity may manifest as running or running around, while adults may exhibit these symptoms more subduedly by constantly shifting their weight or tapping their feet. They may also have trouble being still during a long conversation or reading a book.
Adults suffering from ADHD might also have issues with impulse control which could lead to reckless behaviors like driving too quickly or spending money on unnecessary things. They may also have a hard time resisting temptation and delaying the pleasure. This can cause problems at work or at home. People with ADHD are also frequently struggling with organization, which can make it difficult for them to keep on top of their finances and their bills.
A health care professional will perform a thorough evaluation in order to determine if someone has ADHD. They will look at a person's developmental, medical and educational history and ask questions regarding their current functioning. They can also talk to teachers, family members, or employers in order to understand a person's struggles.
A diagnosis of ADHD is when the person suffers from multiple symptoms for at least 12 months. The symptoms must be present before the age 12 and must affect several areas of a person’s life such as their work, school, or social life.
Medical Histories
The American Psychiatric Association has published diagnostic guidelines for ADHD within the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition" (DSM-5). Your doctor will go over your family, personal medical and work histories to determine whether your symptoms satisfy these guidelines. In this process, it is crucial to be honest and honest with your doctor about your problems because they aren't able to diagnose you without that information. Some doctors will ask their patients to speak with loved ones -- spouses, parents, or siblings, for instance- about the impact of ADHD-related behaviors on their lives. This could help the person who is not suffering from ADHD gain a better understanding of the challenges their loved ones are facing. It could also help improve the relationship between them.
ADHD symptoms in adults could vary depending on the situation, but they are often very similar to the symptoms that characterized ADHD in childhood. A key difference is that adults typically suffer from the condition in more complex ways than children do and their symptoms can have a bigger impact on their social, work and school life. Adults who suffer from ADHD might not be able manage their time the like children and might have trouble maintaining relationships or obtaining a job.
Your doctor will perform an examination to determine if you have ADHD. This will include an interview with you and any significant people in your life, a physical exam, and laboratory tests. Additionally, you and your family members will be asked to complete questionnaires about symptoms that have affected you in your life.
When evaluating how to get an adult adhd diagnosis with ADHD as a group, it is important to look into any comorbidities they may have, such as anxiety or depression that can make the symptoms of ADHD worse. If these disorders are not treated, they could lead to feelings of anger and frustration that are internalized as stress or anger. This can lead to an endless cycle of untreated ADHD symptoms can exacerbate underlying comorbidities, causing them to flare up more frequently. This can have a huge impact on your quality-of-life, so it's important to address the ADHD and the comorbidities.
Psychological Evaluation
When a health care provider is trying to determine if a patient is suffering from ADHD, they usually conduct a psychological evaluation. This involves an extensive interview with the patient, taking a thorough medical history of the family, as well as examining documents. They will ask the patient to describe the symptoms and how it affects their daily lives. They will then ask the person to rate their symptoms using standardized rating scales or questionnaires.
Adults who seek the diagnosis of ADHD often do so due to the fact that their symptoms affect multiple aspects of their lives. Their work might be affected by the lack of deadlines or a poor performance in meetings. They may have difficulty in their relationships as they cannot listen or wait for their turn. Their home life may be in chaos because they fail to keep up with chores or take care of their children.
It is important to remember that many people with ADHD also suffer from certain symptoms. Stress, mental health problems and physical ailments can cause similar symptoms. It is important to seek out the advice of a professional and have a thorough assessment.
A psychological evaluation will include an in-depth examination of the person's history, specifically their childhood experiences. A mental health professional may also want to speak to the person's parents, spouse or other family members to find out their perspective on the person's behavior and how it has affected their daily functioning.
A mental health professional could also use a series standard tests to assess the cognitive abilities of a person. They could include the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale, the Hopkins Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). These tests will help to determine whether or not an individual is suffering from ADHD.
Sometimes mental health professionals recommend that a person participate in a clinical trial to try out new treatments for ADHD. While participating in a trial can be beneficial, it is important to be aware that these trials are mostly designed to help you gain new knowledge in science and not to treat specific health problems. If you're interested to learn more, speak to your doctor or visit NIMH Clinical Trials.
Social Evaluation
Many adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis struggle to maintain stability in their home or work environment. They may be struggling to keep up with daily tasks such as cleaning the house, remembering to make and keep appointments, or getting their children ready for school. They might also have trouble staying on task at work and often appear uneasy or "on edge" while sitting in the office.
It is crucial for a doctor to consider all these symptoms and how they affect the person's life prior to making the diagnosis of ADHD. There are people who have problems with ADHD throughout their lives, whereas others have issues in just particular areas, such as work or relationships. The signs of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention are all considered in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD (Austerman 2015).
A medical professional will conduct an extensive mental health assessment and will consider other factors that could cause similar symptoms as those experienced by ADHD. For instance stress and head injuries, mood disorders, certain thyroid disorders, medications and other physical ailments can mimic the symptoms of ADHD. It is crucial to determine if a person suffers from comorbidities like anxiety or depression. If not treated, ADHD could lead to these psychiatric conditions and can cause the symptoms of ADHD worse.
The evaluator can also look into the family history of ADHD in order to determine if there's an inheritance component. Research has shown that up to 80 percent of ADHD risk is inherited. Other non-genetic factors that could contribute to the development of ADHD include a low birth weight and exposure to toxins during pregnancy or birth prematurely.
A diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood could alter your life. For some, it gives an explanation for their difficulties and for others, it brings relief that they now know the reason behind their struggles. This belief led to women's symptoms not being taken seriously for a long time. This is the reason why Hamdani has taken to TikTok and Instagram as The Psych Doc to dispel these myths and share her own experiences as an ADHD woman.