Diagnosing ADHD in Adults
A health care professional can diagnose ADHD. This could be the primary health care provider, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
A diagnosis of ADHD is dependent on the amount and severity of symptoms and how they interfere with daily life. Symptoms must have been present since childhood and must cause impairment in multiple settings, such as school or at work.
Identifying symptoms
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD have suffered from symptoms for years. However, they might not have realized they had a mental illness. Other people receive a diagnosis when they realize that their relationships or their work performance are being affected. A diagnosis can be a revelation but it can also feel overwhelming for those at different stages of life.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as inattention are a few of the most prevalent ADHD symptoms that adults experience. A person suffering from ADHD might be distracted when they are listening to a lecture or wait in the line. They may also have difficulty getting their work done on time or losing things easily. People with ADHD may also have trouble getting comfortable and may become frustrated emotionally easily.
In children, signs of ADHD are more apparent however, in adults, hyperactivity and impulsivity might not be apparent. For instance when children are hyperactive, it may manifest as running or jumping around, whereas adults can display these symptoms more subduedly through shifting their weight or tapping their feet. Additionally, they might have difficulty sitting still during long conversations or reading the book.
Adults suffering from ADHD may also struggle in controlling their impulses, which can lead to risk-taking behaviors such as driving too fast or spending money on unnecessary things. They may also have trouble resisting the urge to buy something and delaying their satisfaction. This can lead to problems at work or at home. People with ADHD also have issues organizing their lives, which can make it hard for them to keep the track of their finances or their bills.
A health care professional will conduct an exhaustive evaluation to determine if a person has ADHD. They will inquire about the person's current functioning and examine their medical and educational history as well as developmental. They may also interview relatives as well as teachers or employers to get an understanding of a person's struggles.
A person must exhibit multiple symptoms for a minimum of 12 months to be diagnosed with ADHD. The symptoms must have appeared before the age of 12 and they must affect many areas of a person's daily life, like school, work, or social life.
Medical Histories
The American Psychiatric Association publishes diagnostic guidelines for ADHD in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition" (DSM-5). IamPsychiatry will look over your medical and family histories to identify symptoms that match these criteria. In this process, it is important to be open and honest with your doctor about your problems because they can't diagnose you without that information. Some doctors suggest that patients ask family members, like spouses, parents or siblings, about the effect ADHD-related behavior has on their lives. This helps the person who isn't diagnosed with ADHD to gain a clear understanding of the issues their loved one faces and could help their relationship in the future.
ADHD symptoms in adults can vary depending on the situation but they are generally identical to those that characterize ADHD in childhood. Adults typically suffer from ADHD in a different way than children, and the symptoms have an impact on their school, work and social life. Adults who suffer from ADHD may not be able manage their time in the like children and may have difficulties keeping relationships in place or finding an employment.
Your doctor will conduct an examination to determine if you have ADHD. This involves an interview with yourself and any significant individuals who are in your life as well as a physical exam and laboratory tests. Your family and you will be required to complete questionnaires about the symptoms that have affected you.
When evaluating adults with ADHD as a group, it is important to look into any comorbidities they may suffer from, like anxiety or depression that can make the symptoms of ADHD worse. If these conditions aren't treated, they can contribute to feelings of frustration and low performance that get internalized as chronic stress or anger. This can create a vicious cycle where untreated ADHD symptoms can worsen underlying comorbidities, causing flare-ups to occur more often. This can have a major impact on the quality of your life, so it is essential to treat both comorbidities and the ADHD.
Psychological Evaluation
When a health care provider wants to determine whether someone is suffering from ADHD typically, they conduct a psychological examination. This involves a thorough interview with the patient, taking a thorough family medical history, and reviewing documents. They will ask them to describe their symptoms and how it affects their daily life. They will also ask the person to rate their symptoms on scales of rating and questionnaires that are standardised.
Adults who seek a diagnosis of ADHD are seeking a diagnosis for ADHD when they observe that their symptoms are affecting different aspects of their life. They might not be able to do well in meetings or meet deadlines at work. They might struggle in their relationships because they are unable to listen or wait for their turn. Their home life could be chaotic because they fail to keep up with chores or take care of their children.
It is crucial to remember that many people without ADHD have some of these symptoms. A variety of factors can cause similar problems, such as stress, mental health issues, as well as physical ailments. It is crucial to seek out the advice of a professional and have a thorough assessment.
A psychological assessment may also include a detailed look at the person's history, particularly their childhood experiences. A mental health professional may also consider speaking with the person's parents or spouse, or other close family members to gain their perspective on the person's behavior and how it affects their daily functioning.
A mental health professional might also utilize a set of standard tests to assess the person's cognitive abilities. They could include the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale and the Hopkins Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). These tests can be used to determine if a person has ADHD symptoms.
Mental health professionals might recommend that a person take part in a study to determine whether they are susceptible to ADHD. Although participating in a trial can be beneficial, you must understand that these studies are designed to gather new scientific information and not to treat any specific health issue. If you're interested in knowing more about clinical trials, speak with your doctor or visit the NIMH's Clinical Trials webpage.
Social Evaluation
Many adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis struggle to maintain stability in their home or workplace. They may be struggling to keep up with daily tasks like cleaning the house or remembering to schedule and keep appointments or getting their children ready for school. They might also have difficulty staying on task at work, and are often seen as agitated or "on-edge" when they sit at their desks.
Before determining ADHD it is crucial that a doctor considers all of these symptoms and their impact on a person's everyday life. Certain people suffer from ADHD-related issues throughout their lives, whereas others have issues in just one area such as work or relationships. Signs of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention are all considered in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD (Austerman, 2015).
A medical professional will conduct an exhaustive mental health evaluation and take into account other factors that could cause similar symptoms to those associated with ADHD. For instance, stress depression, mood disorders, head injuries and thyroid issues, certain medications and other physical ailments can mimic the symptoms of ADHD. It is also crucial to determine whether a person has comorbidities like depression or anxiety. Untreated ADHD can lead to these psychiatric disorders and can cause ADHD symptoms worse.
The evaluator may also examine the family history of ADHD in order to determine if there is an inheritance component. Research has shown that up to 80 percent of ADHD risk is inherited. The birth weight of the baby is low, as well as exposure during pregnancy to toxins, and premature birth are all non-genetic causes which can contribute to ADHD.
A diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood could alter your life. Some find it a relief to finally find a reason for their issues. Others are relieved that they know what is causing their issues. Historically, the myth has been that only boys who are hyperactive are diagnosed with ADHD and this assumption has resulted in women's symptoms being overlooked for a long time. This is 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.