Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment
Many adults with ADHD are having a difficult to be diagnosed. Doctors must determine if the symptoms are present now and if they have been previously present (technically prior to age 12).
A thorough assessment usually requires more than one person. It is often helpful to include family members, colleagues and teachers.
Self-Assessment Tool
The most used self-assessment tool used by adults with ADHD is the Adult ADHD Symptom Self-Report Scale. Adults can complete it at home. It is available on the internet. This tool asks questions about the most common symptoms experienced by ADHD sufferers. It is a good initial step in determining whether or not you should seek further evaluation from a healthcare 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 evaluates a range of ADHD symptoms in real-world situations. It can be administered either as a self-report or as an instrument rated by an observer. It includes a number of useful supplemental factors apart from the DSM-5 subscales, and also provides norms based on age.
These symptom inventories can be useful for diagnosing ADHD since they offer a greater variety of data than a single clinical interview, however their low positive predictive value restrict them. This means they over-identify probable ADHD cases. The reason is that many of the symptoms assessed by these tools are also present in healthy individuals and are not limited to ADHD.
Another challenge is that a diagnosis of ADHD must be based on the existence of symptoms over time and in different situations. This requires a thorough assessment of functioning from several different angles, and the assessment of comorbidities, like depression or addiction disorders. These disorders often co-occur with ADHD and can affect the quality of life of people suffering from these conditions.
Despite the limitations, self-assessment tools remain useful as a first screening test that could identify a person's possibility of having elevated levels of ADHD symptoms and should consider an evaluation by a doctor. assessing adhd in adults is particularly important for people who believe that their symptoms could be impacting their life at school, work or in their home.
An interview with a clinical ADHD specialist can give a more complete picture and a greater degree of certainty in a diagnosis. They can make use of a variety of information including neuropsychological tests and other performance-based measurements as well as anecdotal data from the person's daily life.
Diagnosis
Only a licensed mental healthcare professional who is trained to conduct such evaluations can diagnose adult ADHD. Self-tests online, such as self-tests or rating scales may determine if your symptoms are caused by ADHD but they are not able to provide an accurate diagnosis.
A professional ADHD assessment involves a thorough interview, information from sources independent such as spouse or family member, and standard psychometric tests. The purpose of a thorough assessment is to determine whether the person's symptoms are serious enough to cause impairment in at least two areas of their life. A person could be afflicted by being fired from a job, enduring financial problems due to not paying their bills on time or experiencing tension and discord in relationships.
It is crucial that patients talk about their symptoms honestly and openly during the clinical interview. Adults suffering from ADHD tend to shy away from their symptoms due to fear of being judged or worried that others will criticize them. It may be difficult but it is important for the doctor to have a complete picture of the individual's life and their symptoms.
Diagnostic interviews that are structured can be used to assess adult ADHD. These types of interviews can help reduce the dependence on the DSM-based inventory of symptoms that was designed for children, but doesn't always translate well for adults. Adult ADHD inventories as well as executive function inventories and impairment/quality-of-life scores are all useful tools in the evaluation process. They allow the clinicians to track the progress of the patient throughout treatment.
Request your primary physician to refer you to a local specialist who is experienced in adult ADHD diagnosis. You may also request an insurance provider's referral or a hospital affiliated with a university or contact your local psychology group or support group to find a certified professional. If you are having trouble finding a specialist in your area, contact a company that offers consultations via video or telephone. These services are a reasonable way to get the help that you need right now.
Treatment
Adults who suffer from ADHD might have issues at home, at work and in their relationships. Inattention, disorganization and the symptoms of impulsivity can affect self-esteem and social functioning which can lead to frustration and the feeling that things will never be the same again. It's essential to find a professional that is aware of the difficulties associated with diagnosing and treating adult ADHD.
In contrast to children, adults have to be able to demonstrate higher levels of symptoms in order to be diagnosed. Adults must have chronic, severe problems in a variety of areas of their lives. It is important to collect a complete medical history as certain illnesses can exhibit similar symptoms to ADHD such as thyroid disorders and hearing or vision issues, and seizures. Some drugs and medications may also cause ADHD-like signs and symptoms.
Structured diagnostic interviews help clinicians verify that the symptoms being reported are indeed those of ADHD and not related to other neurodevelopmental disorders or psychiatric illnesses. This may include questions about the patient's education, work experience and family history. The clinician may also ask about past and current alcohol and drug abuse, and any other health issues, such a sleep disorder, hearing or vision problems or sleep disorders.
In addition to the structured interview, additional tests could be used. These include IQ tests and achievement tests, as along with other psychological or neuropsychological assessments. These tests don't diagnose ADHD however, they could provide valuable information about the effects of ADHD on an individual.
Once an accurate diagnosis is made, psychosocial treatment and pharmacological therapies are usually used to address the symptoms. These treatments can be used either in conjunction or individually. Cognitive behavioral therapy, for instance can be used to identify and alter "thought distortions" and enhance the ability of patients to prioritize and manage tasks. ADHD medication can be used to reduce impulsiveness that makes it hard for patients to complete their school or work assignments.
It is recommended that all adults with an onset diagnosis of ADHD or uncontrolled symptoms visit their physician within 30 days. Regular follow-up visits are recommended until symptoms and functioning have improved. It is also crucial for the health care professional to keep track of any comorbid conditions like mood and anxiety disorders, during treatment.
Support
Adults suffering from ADHD might find help in many different ways. Some adults with ADHD feel comfortable in online forums or virtual peer support groups like those offered by ADDitude Magazine. They can also get connected with other people by attending meetings of local support groups or camps for teenagers, kids and adults suffering from ADHD. These groups offer support, materials, and guest speakers who can assist in learning how to manage, cope, and other life skills.
The process of diagnosing an adult with ADHD is more difficult than determining if a child is a child, and many of the instruments available for self-assessment cannot give a precise diagnosis. The DSM-V symptom guidelines are designed to diagnose children. A mature ADHD diagnosis can only be made after a comprehensive clinical evaluation that includes a structured diagnostic interviews and various objective tests. Neuropsychological testing and performance-based tests are particularly helpful for evaluating executive functioning deficits. They permit a doctor to observe symptoms in action and can provide a better picture of the degree of impairment than self-report instruments.
In addition to evaluating the patient's condition, it is important to conduct interviews with the people who are who are in the same lifelike spouses or spouse, parents, siblings and even employers. While this can be difficult for the person being assessed, it is critical that they open up and discuss their problems in a candid manner. Most people with ADHD have a limited awareness of how their behavior affects others around them and could be hesitant to speak about negative effects of their behavior.
A thorough evaluation will require a thorough examination of the patient's past history to identify possible medical and psychological conditions that could explain the presenting symptoms. It is not uncommon for a person suffering from ADHD to suffer from multiple disorders at the same time.
It is crucial for adults who suffer from 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 to fill out the questionnaire should be close to the individual, like parents, siblings or a someone who can confirm their observations. Some doctors request that a trusted friend or employer complete a similar form to obtain additional information not provided in an interview with a clinician.