Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment
Many adults with ADHD have a difficult time getting diagnosed. Doctors must determine whether symptoms are present in the present and if they've been previously present (technically prior to the age of 12).
Usually, a thorough assessment involves more than one person. It is often helpful to include family members, co-workers and teachers.
Self-Assessment Tool
The most popular self-assessment tool used by adults with ADHD is the Adult ADHD Symptom Self-Report Scale. Adults can take it at home. It is available on the internet. The tool asks a series of questions regarding symptoms that are commonly reported by people with ADHD. It can be a useful first step in determining whether or not you should seek further evaluation from a healthcare professional.
Other inventory of symptoms for adults include the BADDS42. The AD/HD Symptom Inventory for Adults is also available. The BADDS is a 40-item scale that assesses a variety of ADHD symptoms in real-world situations. It can be used as a self-report, or as an instrument rated by observers. It also includes useful supplemental factors in addition to DSM-5 scales. Age-based norms are also included.
These inventories of symptoms are helpful in the diagnosis process because they provide a wider range of information than a single interview, but their low positive predictive value limit them. This means that they significantly over-diagnose cases of possible ADHD. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms that these tools assess are also present in healthy people and are not specific to ADHD.
Another issue is that the diagnosis of ADHD must be based on the presence of symptoms that are present over time and in different settings. This requires a more in-depth assessment of functioning from several different angles and the evaluation of comorbidities, such as depression or substance use disorders. These comorbidities are often associated with ADHD and can affect the quality of life of people suffering from these conditions.
Despite these limitations, self-assessment instruments are still a great initial screening test that could identify a person's possibility of having higher levels of ADHD symptoms and should think about having a medical evaluation. This is particularly important for people who believe that their symptoms could be impacting their life at work, school or in their home.
An interview with a clinical ADHD specialist can give a more complete picture and offer a greater level of confidence in the diagnosis. how to get diagnosed with adult adhd can draw from an array of data that includes the results of neuropsychological tests and other measures of performance as well as anecdotal evidence from a patient's daily life.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of adult ADHD is only made by an authorized mental health professional with experience in conducting these tests. While online tools like self-tests and rating scales may give an indication of whether your symptoms might be due to ADHD, they cannot give you a definitive diagnosis.
A professional ADHD evaluation consists of a thorough interview, data from independent sources like a spouse or family member and standardized psychometric tests. The aim of a thorough evaluation is to determine whether the individual's symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in at least two aspects of his or her life. It could be that you are fired from a job, enduring financial issues because of not paying bills on time or experiencing distress and conflict in relationships.
It is important that patients talk about their issues openly and honestly during the clinical interview. Adults with ADHD tend to conceal their symptoms because they're embarrassed or fearful that others will judge them. Although this can be a challenge to do, it is essential for a clinician to have the most complete understanding of the individual's symptoms and their impact on the person's life.
The structured diagnostic interview can be used to assess adult ADHD. These kinds of interviews could help reduce the dependence on the DSM-based symptoms inventory that was designed for children but does not always translate well for adults. Adult ADHD inventories and symptoms checklists, executive function inventories, and impairment/quality-of-life ratings are also valuable for the evaluation process since they permit the doctor to monitor a patient's progress throughout treatment.
Ask your primary care doctor for a referral to an expert local to you who is skilled in the diagnosis of adult ADHD. You can also get an appointment through your insurance company, call a university hospital or ask your local psychology association for help in finding a qualified professional. If you are having trouble finding a specialist in your area, call an organization that provides video or phone consultations. These services are a cost-effective method of getting the assistance that you need right now.
Treatment
Adults suffering from ADHD may experience difficulties at home, work and in their relationships. The signs of inattention or impulsivity, inattention and disorganization could hinder self-esteem and social performance leading to anger and a feeling of they'll never achieve their goals. It is essential to find a professional who is familiar with the difficulties of diagnosing and treating adults with ADHD.
Unlike children, adults must meet higher thresholds of symptoms in order to be diagnosed. Adults must have persistent, severe issues in several areas of their lives. It is important to collect a complete medical history as certain illnesses can exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD including thyroid disorders and hearing or vision issues and seizures. Some drugs and medications could also cause symptoms and signs.
The structured diagnostic interview helps the clinician verify that the symptoms being observed are indeed related to ADHD and not related to other neurodevelopmental disorders or psychiatric illnesses. This could include questions about the patient's school, job and family histories. The doctor can also inquire about alcohol and drug use both in the past and the present, and any other health issues such as sleep disorder, problems with vision or hearing.
In addition to the structured interview, additional tests could be used. These include IQ tests and achievement tests as well as different tests for neuropsychological or psychological testing. These tests do not diagnose ADHD but can provide important information on how it affects an individual.
Once a diagnosis has been made, psychosocial and pharmacological treatment are often used to alleviate the symptoms. These treatments can be utilized as a pair or in combination. For example, a patient might be treated using cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify and correct "thought distortions" and improve his ability to prioritize tasks and manage his time. ADHD medication can be used to reduce impulsiveness that makes it hard for patients to finish their school or work assignments.
Adults with newly diagnosed ADHD or uncontrolled symptoms are advised to see their doctor within the next 30 days. Regular follow-up visits will be suggested until symptoms and functioning have improved. It is essential that the health professional be aware of comorbidities like depression and anxiety during treatment.
Support
Adults suffering from ADHD can find support in various ways. Many people who suffer from ADHD are at ease in online forums or virtual peer support groups, such as those provided by ADDitude Magazine. They can also meet others by attending meetings of local support groups or camps for kids, teens and adults with ADHD. These groups can provide support, resources, and guest speakers to help with learning, coping and other life skills.
Adults are more difficult to diagnose than children, and the majority of the self-assessment tools cannot provide a definitive diagnosis. The symptom guidelines in the DSM-V are designed to diagnose children, while an adult ADHD diagnosis is only made after an extensive clinical evaluation that includes structured diagnostic interviews and a variety of objective tests. Neuropsychological tests and performance-based assessments are particularly useful in assessing executive function impairments. They offer a healthcare professional the opportunity to observe symptoms in action, and can give a more comprehensive picture of the extent of impairment than self-report instruments.
It is important to interview other important people in the patient's life like the spouse or parent, siblings and parents and employers. It can be difficult for those being evaluated to open up and discuss their issues. Adults with ADHD may not be aware of the negative consequences of their behavior on others.
A thorough evaluation includes a thorough examination of the patient's history to determine if there are any psychiatric or other conditions that could be causing the symptoms. It is not unusual for someone with ADHD to suffer from more than one disorder simultaneously.
Since symptom ratings are dependent on subjective perceptions, it is essential that people with ADHD have someone else take part in questionnaires that assess their symptoms and impact on their quality of life. The person who is chosen should be a close friend or parent who knows the person well and can vouch for their observations. Some doctors will also require that a trusted friend or employer complete similar forms in order to obtain additional information that may not be found in a standard interview.