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Diagnosing ADHD in Adults
A health care provider can diagnose ADHD. This could be an primary health care practitioner, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
The diagnosis of ADHD is determined by the severity and number of symptoms, as well as the way they affect your daily life. The symptoms must have been present from childhood and must be causing problems in more than just one place, like school or work.
Identifying Symptoms
Many people who are diagnosed with ADHD have been suffering from their symptoms for years however, they may not know that they suffer from a mental health issue. Other people receive a diagnosis when they realize that their relationships or work performance are suffering. A diagnosis can be a life-changing experience, but can also be overwhelming for those at different stages of their lives.
Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD in adults are hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. A person suffering from ADHD may fidget while listening to a lecture or wait in line. They might also forget things easily or struggle to complete tasks in time. Additionally, people with ADHD frequently have difficulty relaxing and may become angry and emotionally tense easily.
ADHD symptoms are more evident in children, while hyperactivity and impulsivity can be less evident in adults. In children, hyperactivity can manifest in running and jumping and bouncing, while adults might exhibit these signs by shifting their weight or tapping their feet. They may also have trouble sitting still when listening to an extended conversation or reading the book.
Adults with ADHD might also have issues in controlling their impulses which could lead to reckless behaviors like driving too fast or spending money on unnecessary things. They might also have difficulty resisting temptation and delaying gratification. This can lead to issues at work or at home. People with ADHD frequently have difficulties with organization. This makes it difficult to keep track with their bills or finances.
A health care professional will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if a person has ADHD. They will inquire about the person's current functioning and review their medical background, educational and developmental history. They can also talk to teachers, family members, or employers in order to better understand the person's challenges.
A person has to have multiple symptoms for at least 12 months in order to be diagnosed with ADHD. The symptoms must have appeared before the age of 12, and they must impact many areas of one's life like school, work or their social life.
Medical History
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 look over your personal, family, medical and work history to determine whether your symptoms match these guidelines. It is crucial to be honest and open with your doctor regarding your symptoms, as they cannot diagnose you without this information. Some doctors suggest that patients talk to family members, including spouses, parents or siblings, about the effect ADHD-related behaviors have on their lives. This will help the person with no ADHD gain a better understanding the challenges their loved ones face. It can also enhance the relationship.
Adults' ADHD symptoms may vary by situation, but many appear very similar to the behaviors that characterized the condition in childhood. A key difference is that adults often suffer from their symptoms in more complex ways than children do, and their symptoms have a bigger impact on their work, social and school lives. Adults who suffer from ADHD might not be able manage their time in the like children and might have trouble keeping relationships in place or finding a job.
To determine the diagnosis the doctor will conduct a thorough medical assessment, which usually includes an interview with you and any other important people in your life, a physical exam and laboratory tests to rule out any other medical issues that can affect ADHD. Additionally you and your family members will be asked to fill out questionnaires on the issues that have affected your life.
It is essential to take into account any comorbidities that people with ADHD may have, such anxiety or depression. These conditions can cause ADHD symptoms worse. If these disorders are not treated, they can contribute to feelings of frustration and underachievement that get internalized as chronic stress or anger. This can result in an unending cycle of ADHD symptoms can worsen the underlying comorbidities, which causes them to flare-up even more often. This can have a huge impact on your daily life, so it's important to treat the ADHD and comorbidities.
Psychological Evaluation
If a healthcare professional decides to determine if 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 looking over documents. They will ask the person to describe their symptoms and how they impact their daily lives. They will ask the patient to rate their symptoms using standardized rating scales or questionnaires.
Adults who seek a diagnosis of ADHD typically do so due to the fact that their symptoms affect multiple aspects of their lives. Their work could be affected by the lack of deadlines or a poor performance in meetings. They could have issues with their relationships if they don't pay attention or wait for their turn. Their home life may be in website disarray because they are unable to keep up with chores or attend to their children.
It is important to recognize that many people who don't have ADHD experience some of the same symptoms. A variety of factors could cause similar problems, such as stress, other mental health issues and physical illnesses. As a result, it is important to consult a health care expert and take a thorough examination.
A psychological assessment will include a thorough examination of the person's history, particularly their childhood experiences. A mental health professional might be able to talk to the person's parents or spouse, or other close family members to gain their opinion on the person's behavior and how it has affected their daily life.
A mental health professional could also employ a series of standardized tests to measure the cognitive abilities of a person. These tests may include the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) as well as the Hopkins Psychiatric Rating Scale (HPRS), and the Global Assessment of Functioning(GAF). These tests can be used to determine if an individual suffers from ADHD symptoms.
Mental health professionals might recommend that a person take part in a study to determine if he or she is susceptible to ADHD. While taking part in a clinical trial can be beneficial, it is important to recognize that the primary goal of these studies is to obtain new scientific knowledge and not to treat a specific health problem. If you're interested to learn more, consult your doctor or visit NIMH Clinical Trials.
Social Evaluation
Many adults seeking a diagnosis of ADHD are struggling to stay in a stable state at home or at work. They may be struggling to keep up with daily tasks like cleaning the house, remembering and keeping appointments or getting their children ready for school. They may also have a difficult time keeping their work on track, and they often seem restless or "on edge" when they are in the office.
Before determining ADHD, it's important that a doctor considers all of these symptoms and their effects on a person's life. Certain people suffer from ADHD-related issues in multiple areas of their lives, whereas others have issues in just particular areas, such as relationships or work. Symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention are all included in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD (Austerman, 2015).
A health professional will perform a thorough mental evaluation and consider other factors that could trigger similar symptoms as ADHD. For example, stress, mood disorders, head injuries or other injuries, certain medications, thyroid conditions and other physical ailments may mimic the symptoms of ADHD. It's important to determine if a person is suffering from comorbidities such as anxiety or depression. Untreated ADHD can cause psychiatric disorders and can cause ADHD symptoms worse.
The evaluator can also look into the family history of ADHD to determine if there is a genetic component. Research suggests that as much as 80 percent of ADHD risk is passed down through the family. The birth weight of the baby is low, as well as exposure during pregnancy to toxins, and premature birth are all non-genetic factors that contribute to ADHD.
Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult can be a life altering moment. For some, it provides an answer to their issues and others feel relieved that they know the reason behind their struggles. This misconception led to women's symptoms not being considered serious 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.