Diagnosing ADHD in Adults
A health 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 how they affect everyday life. The symptoms must be present from childhood and must be causing problems in more than one environment, such as school or work.
Identifying symptoms
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD have suffered from symptoms for many years. However, they may not have realized that they had a mental illness. Some people are diagnosed after they discover that their productivity at work is declining or that their relationships are strained. A diagnosis could be a revelation, but it can also feel overwhelming for people at different stages of life.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as inattention are among the most common ADHD symptoms among adults. For example, someone with ADHD might squirm in their seat while they listen to an audio lecture at work or struggle to wait their turn in the line. They might also have trouble getting their work done on time or forgetting things easily. Additionally, people who suffer from ADHD often have trouble relaxing and may become frustrated and emotional easily.
In children, symptoms of ADHD are more apparent, but in adults, hyperactivity and impulsivity may not be as obvious. For instance, in children, hyperactivity may manifest as running or jumping around, but adults might display these signs more subtly by constantly shifting their weight or tapping their feet. Additionally, they might be unable to remain still during long conversations or reading an article.
Adults suffering from ADHD may also have issues with impulse control. This can lead to risky behaviors, such as driving too fast or spending money on unnecessary items. 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 typically have issues in organising their lives. This can make it difficult for them to keep up with their expenses or financial obligations.
A health care professional will perform an extensive evaluation to determine if a person is suffering from ADHD. They will ask about the person's current performance and look over their medical, educational and developmental history. They may also speak to family members, teachers, or employers in order to better understand the person's struggles.
A person has to have multiple symptoms for at least 12 months before being diagnosed with ADHD. The symptoms must be present prior to the age of 12 and affect multiple areas of one's life such as their work, school, 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). Your doctor will go over your personal, family medical, and work history to determine if you have symptoms that match these guidelines. It is crucial to be honest and open with your doctor about your symptoms, since they cannot diagnose you without this information. Some doctors will ask patients to interview family members, like parents, spouses 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 ones face and could help their relationship in the future.
ADHD symptoms in adults may depend on the specific situation however, they are usually identical to those that characterized ADHD in childhood. Adults typically experience their ADHD symptoms in a different way than children, and the symptoms can have a greater impact on their work, school and social life. Adults with ADHD may not be able manage their time the same way as children, and may have difficulties keeping relationships in place or finding an employment.
Your doctor will conduct a clinical evaluation to diagnose ADHD. This involves an interview with you and any significant individuals in your lives and a physical examination and laboratory tests. You and your family members will also be asked to complete questionnaires about the symptoms that have affected you.
When evaluating adults with ADHD as a group, it is important to take into consideration any comorbidities they may suffer from, like anxiety or depression, which can make the symptoms of ADHD worse. If these disorders are not treated, they could lead to feelings of frustration and low performance that are internalized as stress or anger. undiagnosed adhd in adults can result in an endless cycle of untreated ADHD symptoms can exacerbate the underlying comorbidities, which causes them to flare-up even more often. This can have a profound impact on your quality of life, so it is important to treat both the complicacies and the ADHD.
Psychological Evaluation
A psychological assessment is typically conducted by a health care doctor to determine if a patient is suffering from ADHD. This involves a thorough interview with the patient, an exhaustive medical history of the family and an extensive review of the documents. They will ask the patient to describe their symptoms and how they impact their daily life. They will ask the patient to rate their symptoms using standard rating scales or questionnaires.
Adults seeking a diagnosis for ADHD do so when they observe that their symptoms are affecting different aspects of their life. Their work might be affected by late deadlines or poor performance in meetings. They may struggle with their relationships due to the fact that they cannot listen or wait for their turn. Their home life could be in disarray due to their inability to keep up with chores or attend to their children.
It is important to recognize that many people who do not suffer from ADHD suffer from some of the same symptoms. A variety of factors could cause similar problems, such as stress, mental health issues, as well as physical ailments. It is crucial to seek the advice of an expert and have a thorough assessment.
A psychological assessment will provide an in-depth look at the person's past, especially their childhood experiences. A mental health professional might also want to speak to the person's spouse or parents or other family members to gain their opinions on the individual's behavior and how it affects their daily functioning.
A mental health professional could also employ a series of standard tests to assess the cognitive abilities of a person. These tests could include the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) and the Hopkins Psychiatric Rating Scale (HPRS), and the Global Assessment of Functioning(GAF). These tests will help to determine if an individual has symptoms of ADHD.
Sometimes, mental health professionals will suggest that a person take part in a clinical trial to try out new treatments for ADHD. While taking part in a clinical trial could be beneficial, it's important to understand that the main purpose of these studies is to obtain new scientific knowledge and not to treat a specific health problem. If you're interested to learn more, speak to your doctor or go to NIMH Clinical Trials.
Social Evaluation
Many people who seek an ADHD diagnosis struggle to maintain their stability at workplace or at home. They may have trouble keeping up with their daily chores such as cleaning the house or remembering to make and keep appointments, or getting their children ready for school. They might also have a difficult time staying focused in the workplace, and often appear restless or "on-edge" when they are sitting at their desk.
It is crucial for a doctor to consider all these symptoms and how they affect a person's life before making a diagnosis of ADHD. Certain people suffer from ADHD throughout their lives, while others have a single issue like work or relationships. The criteria for diagnosing ADHD include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.
A medical professional will perform an exhaustive mental evaluation and also consider other elements that may cause similar symptoms as ADHD. Stress, mood disorders and head injuries could mimic ADHD symptoms. Certain thyroid diseases, medications, and other physical ailments may cause similar symptoms. It is important to determine if a person suffers from comorbidities like depression or anxiety. Untreated ADHD can result in these psychiatric conditions, and they may make the symptoms of ADHD worse.
The evaluator will also examine the individual's family history of ADHD to determine if there is a genetic component. It is widely known that ADHD is largely inherited, and research suggests that about 70%-80% of the risk for developing ADHD is inherited. Other non-genetic factors that can cause the development of ADHD include low birth weight and exposure to toxins during pregnancy or having a premature birth.
A diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood can change your life. For some, it offers an explanation for their difficulties and for others, it brings relief that they now know what's causing their challenges. This misconception led to women's symptoms not being taken seriously for too long. This is why Hamdani has taken to TikTok and Instagram as The Psych Doc to dispel these myths and to share her personal experiences as an ADHD woman.