Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment
Adults with ADHD are often unable to be diagnosed. Doctors need to assess whether symptoms are present today or if they have been present at different times in the course of their lives (technically prior to age 12).
A thorough assessment typically involves more than one person. It is beneficial to include family members, coworkers and teachers.
Self-Assessment Tool
The Adult ADHD Symptom Self Report Scale is the most popular tool for self-assessment among adults suffering from ADHD. Adults can complete it at home. It is accessible online. This tool will ask questions about the most common symptoms experienced by ADHD sufferers. This tool can be used as a preliminary step to determine whether or not you should seek a further evaluation from a medical professional.
Other symptom inventories 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 that are contextualized in real-life situations. It can be administered by self-report or as an instrument that is rated by an observer. It contains a variety of beneficial supplementary factors aside from the DSM-5 subscales and provides age-based norms.
These symptom inventories can be helpful in the process of diagnosing ADHD by providing a broader range of data points than a single clinical interview however, they are limited by their low predictive power. This means that they are able to over-identify possible ADHD cases. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms these tools look for are present in healthy individuals and aren't exclusive to ADHD.
A diagnosis of ADHD is dependent on the presence and persistance of symptoms in various settings over time. This requires a deeper assessment of performance under various perspectives, as well as the consideration of comorbidities like addiction disorders or depression. These comorbidities are often associated with ADHD, and can have negative effects on the quality of life for those who suffer from these disorders.
Despite these limitations, self-assessment tools remain useful as a first screening test that could alert a person to the possibility of having higher levels of ADHD symptoms and should think about having a medical evaluation. This can be particularly important for those who are concerned that their symptoms are impacting their daily life at the workplace, at school or in their family.
Clinical interviews with an ADHD specialist can give an accurate picture and offer a greater level of certainty in a diagnosis. They can make use of a variety of tests, including neuropsychological and other performance-based measurements as well as anecdotal data from the daily routine of the patient.
Diagnosis
Only a licensed mental healthcare professional who is trained to conduct such assessments can determine if you suffer from adult ADHD. While online tools like self-tests and rating scales may give a clue as to whether your symptoms might be caused by ADHD, they cannot give you a definitive diagnosis.
A professional ADHD assessment involves a thorough interview, information from independent sources such as a spouse or family member, and standardized psychometric tests. The purpose of a thorough examination is to determine whether the person's symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in at least two areas of their lives. A person could be afflicted by being fired from a position, experiencing financial difficulties because of not paying their bills on time, or experiencing tension and discord in relationships.
It is essential that patients talk about their issues in a candid and honest manner during the interview. adhd assessment adult with ADHD are reluctant to talk about their issues because they are embarrassed about their issues or fear that people will view them as having the disorder. It can be a challenge, but it's important that a clinician have a complete picture of the individual's life and the symptoms.
Structured diagnostic interviews are available to evaluate adult ADHD and can make the process less reliant on symptom inventories based on the DSM, which were designed for children and do not always translate well to adults. Adult ADHD inventories and symptom checklists, executive functions inventories, and impairment/quality-of-life scores are also beneficial to the evaluation process as they permit the doctor to track a patient's progress throughout treatment.
Request your primary physician to recommend you to a local specialist that is specialized in adult ADHD diagnosis. You can also request an appointment through your insurance provider, or contact a university hospital or ask your local psychology association for assistance in locating a qualified professional. If you're having difficulty finding a specialist in your area, call a company that offers consultations via phone or video. These services could be an inexpensive way to get the assistance you need today.
Treatment
Adults suffering from ADHD may have issues at home, work and in their relationships. Inattention, disorganization and issues with impulsivity can impact self-esteem and social functioning which can lead to frustration and the feeling that things won't be right. It's crucial to find a professional who is familiar with the difficulties of diagnosing and treating adults suffering from ADHD.
Adults must show more serious symptoms than children to be diagnosed. Adults must have persistent, severe issues in several areas of their lives. It is crucial to gather the complete medical history because some diseases can have similar symptoms to ADHD, including thyroid disorders hearing or vision issues and seizures. In addition, certain drugs and medications can cause symptoms similar to ADHD.
Diagnostic interviews structured to help clinicians verify that the symptoms being described are indeed symptoms of ADHD and not other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders. These can include questions regarding the patient's education, work and family history. The physician can also inquire about the use of alcohol and drugs, past and present, and any other health issues, such as a sleep disorder or hearing or vision disorders.
Other tests are available in addition to the structured interviews. These include IQ and achievement tests along with a variety of tests for neuropsychological or psychological testing. These tests aren't able to diagnose ADHD however, they could provide valuable information on the effects of ADHD on an individual.
Once a diagnosis is confirmed, pharmacological and psychosocial treatment is usually used to address the symptoms. They can be used individually or together. Cognitive behavioral therapy, for example can be used to discover and correct "thought distortions" and improve the ability of a patient to prioritize and organize tasks. ADHD medication can also be used to decrease the inattention and impulsiveness that makes it difficult for patients to complete their work or school assignments.
Anyone who has recently diagnosed ADHD or uncontrolled symptoms are advised to visit their healthcare provider in the next 30 days. It is recommended to follow up regularly until symptoms and functioning have improved. It is also essential for a health professional to monitor comorbid conditions like mood and anxiety disorders, while undergoing treatment.
Support
Adults suffering from ADHD can seek help in a variety of ways. Some people find comfort in online forums and virtual peer support groups like those offered by ADDitude magazine. They can also connect with others by attending meetings of local support groups or attending camps for teens, children and adults with ADHD. These groups can offer support, resources, materials and guest speakers to help with learning, coping and other life skills.
Adults are more difficult to identify than children, and the majority self-assessment instruments cannot give an accurate diagnosis. The DSM-V guidelines on symptom severity are intended to identify children. A definitive adult ADHD diagnosis is only made after a comprehensive clinical evaluation that includes a structured diagnostic interviews and various objective measures. Tests for neuropsychological functioning and performance-based assessments are particularly useful in assessing executive function issues. They permit a clinician to observe symptoms in action and provide a better understanding of the degree of impairment than self report instruments.
It is important to interview other significant individuals in the patient's life, such as the spouse or spouse, parents or siblings and even employers. It can be difficult for those being evaluated to open up and discuss their concerns. Adults with ADHD may not be aware of the negative impact of their behavior on others.
A complete assessment involves a thorough review of the patient's past in order to find any psychiatric or non-psychiatric conditions which could explain the symptoms. It is not uncommon for people suffering from ADHD to be diagnosed with more than one disorder.
Since symptom scores are based on subjective perceptions, it is essential that people with ADHD have someone else fill out questionnaires that assess their symptoms and impact on quality of life. This person should be someone close to the person such as a parent, sibling or acquaintance who can verify their observations. Some doctors may also require that an employer or colleague who is a trusted source complete similar forms as a way to gather additional information that cannot be obtained in a typical interview.