Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment
Adults suffering from ADHD typically have a difficult time getting diagnosed. Doctors need to assess whether symptoms are present today or whether they were present at different points in the course of their lives (technically, before age 12).
Usually, a thorough evaluation involves more than one person. It is beneficial to include family members, coworkers and teachers.
Self-Assessment Tool
The most well-known self-assessment tool for adults with ADHD is the Adult ADHD Symptom Self-Report Scale. Adults can complete it at home. It is available online. This tool asks a series of questions regarding symptoms that are commonly encountered by people suffering from ADHD. This tool can be used as a first step to determine if you should seek further assessment from a medical professional.
Other symptoms inventories for adults include the BADDS42, the AD/HD Symptom Inventory for Adults (AD/HD-IS) and the CAARS44. The BADDS is a 40-item scale that assesses a variety of ADHD symptoms contextualized in real-life scenarios. It can be administered by self-report or as an instrument rated by observers. It provides a range of important supplementary factors, separate from the DSM-5 subscales, and also provides norms based on age.
These symptom inventories can be useful in the diagnosis process because they provide a wider range of data than a single interview, however their low predictive value for positive restrict them. This means that they are able to over-identify possible ADHD cases. 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.
A diagnosis of ADHD is based on the presence and persistent symptoms in various situations over time. This requires a deeper assessment of the functioning from different angles and the consideration of comorbidities, like depression or substance use disorders. These comorbidities are frequently present with ADHD and can have a negative effects on the quality of life of those suffering from these conditions.
Despite the limitations, self-assessment tools are still a great initial screening test that could alert a person to the possibility of having higher levels of ADHD symptoms and should think about an evaluation by a doctor. This is especially important for those who feel that their symptoms are impacting their daily life at school, at work or in their home.
Clinical interviews with an ADHD specialist can give a more complete picture and provide a higher level of confidence in the diagnosis. They can draw from an array of evidence, including the results of neuropsychological testing and other measures based on performance, as well as anecdotal evidence from the daily activities of a patient.
Diagnosis
Only a licensed mental health professional with the proper training to conduct such evaluations can determine if you suffer from adult ADHD. While online tools like self-tests and rating scales may give an indication of whether your symptoms may be caused by ADHD however they cannot offer you a definitive diagnosis.
A professional ADHD assessment includes a thorough interview and information from independent sources like spouse or family member, and standardized psychometric tests. The aim of a thorough examination is to determine whether the person's symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in at least two aspects of his or her life. A person may be affected when they are fired from a job, experiencing financial problems due to not paying their bills on time or experiencing conflict and distress in relationships.
It is essential that patients talk about their issues openly and honestly during the clinical interview. Adults suffering from ADHD tend to hide their symptoms due to fear of being judged or worried that others will criticize them. It may be difficult but it is important for an expert to have an entire picture of the person's life and their symptoms.
Diagnostic interviews that are structured can be used to assess adult ADHD. These types of interviews can decrease the need for a DSM-based symptom inventory, which was developed for children, but doesn't always translate well for adults. Adult ADHD inventories and symptoms checklists, executive function inventories, and impairment/quality-of-life ratings are also useful for the evaluation process as they enable the clinician to track the progress of a patient during treatment.
Request your primary physician to refer you to a local professional who is experienced in adult ADHD diagnosis. You may also request a referral from your insurer or a hospital affiliated with a university or contact your local psychology association or support group to find an experienced professional. If you're struggling to find someone in your area, you can also call a national company that offers consultations via video or telephone to connect you with an expert. These services are a cost-effective way to get the help you require right now.
Treatment
Adults suffering from ADHD are likely to have issues at work, at home and in their relationships. Inattention, disorganization and the symptoms of impulsivity can affect self-esteem and social function leading to frustration and a feeling that things will never be right. It is essential to find a professional that knows the difficulties of diagnosing and treating adult ADHD.
Adults need to show more serious symptoms than children to be diagnosed. Adults have to exhibit more severe, long-term problems across multiple areas of their lives. It is also essential to gather a thorough medical history, as some illnesses exhibit similar symptoms that are similar to ADHD, such as seizures, thyroid disorders and problems with vision or hearing. In addition, certain drugs and medications can cause ADHD-like symptoms.
Structured diagnostic interviews help clinicians confirm that the symptoms being reported are indeed those of ADHD and not other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders. This can include asking about the patient's education, work and family history. The physician may also inquire about past and current drug and alcohol abuse, as well as any other health issues, such a sleep disorder hearing or vision problem or sleep disorders.
Other tests can be used in addition to the structured interviews. These include IQ tests and achievement tests, as in addition to various tests of neuropsychology or psychological. These tests aren't able to diagnose ADHD however they do provide valuable information on the effects of ADHD on an individual.
Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, pharmacological and psychosocial treatment are often used to address the symptoms. These treatments can be used individually or in combination. For example patients could be treated using cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify and correct "thought distortions" and improve his capacity to prioritize tasks and manage his time. ADHD medication can be used to reduce impulsiveness, which can make it difficult for patients to finish their school work or work assignments.
All adults with a newly diagnosed ADHD or uncontrolled symptoms are advised to visit their healthcare provider in the next 30 days. Regular follow-up visits are recommended until symptoms and functioning have improved. It is also important for a health professional to keep track of any comorbid conditions such as mood or anxiety disorders, during treatment.
Support
Adults with ADHD may find support in many different ways. Many people with ADHD find comfort 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 at camps for teens, children and adults suffering from ADHD. These groups offer support, materials, resources and guest speakers that can aid in learning, coping, and other life skills.
The process of diagnosing an adult with ADHD is more difficult than diagnosing a child, and many of the instruments available for self-assessment cannot provide a definitive diagnosis. The symptom guidelines of the DSM-V are specifically designed to help diagnose children, while an adult ADHD diagnosis emerges only from an extensive clinical evaluation that includes structured diagnostic interviews and a variety of objective measures. Testing for neuropsychological disorders and performance-based tests are particularly helpful in evaluating executive functioning deficits. They can give a clinician an opportunity to observe the symptoms in action, and can give a more comprehensive understanding of the extent of impairment than self-report instruments.
It is essential to interview other important people in the life of the patient including spouse or partner, parents and siblings, and employers. It isn't easy for the person being evaluated to open up and discuss their issues. Most people with ADHD have a low awareness of how their actions affect others around them and could be hesitant to speak about negative consequences of their actions.
A complete evaluation involves a thorough review of the patient's past in order to determine if there are any psychiatric or other conditions which could explain the symptoms. It is not unusual for a person with ADHD to be diagnosed with more than one disorder.
It is essential for people with ADHD to have someone else fill out questionnaires that assess their symptoms and impact on quality of life. This is because symptom ratings are subjective. The person who is chosen is a close friend or sibling who is familiar with the person and is able to confirm their observations. assessment of adult adhd ask that a trusted co-worker or employer fill out a similar form to get additional information not available in an interview with a clinician.