Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty getting diagnosed. Doctors must be able to determine if symptoms are present today or if they have been present at different times in life (technically prior to age 12).
A thorough assessment typically involves more than one person. It is usually beneficial to involve family members, co-workers and teachers.
Self-Assessment Tool
The most popular self-assessment instrument for adults suffering from ADHD is the Adult ADHD Symptom Self-Report Scale. It is available on the internet and can be completed by adults at home. This tool asks questions regarding the symptoms that are commonly reported by ADHD sufferers. It is a good initial step in determining whether or not to seek an additional assessment from a medical professional.
Other symptom inventories for adults include the BADDS42 and the AD/HD Symptom Inventory for Adults (AD/HD-IS), and the CAARS44. The BADDS is a 40-item measure that measures a variety of ADHD symptoms in real-world scenarios. It can be administered by self-report or as an instrument that is rated by an observer. It includes a number of useful supplemental factors apart from the DSM-5 subscales and provides norms that are based on age.
These symptom inventories can be helpful in the diagnostic process because they provide a wider range of information than a clinical interview alone However, they are constrained by their low positive predictive value. This means they can significantly over-identify cases of probable ADHD. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms that these tools assess are also present in healthy individuals and are not specific to ADHD.
A diagnosis of ADHD is dependent on the presence and persistence of symptoms in different settings over time. This requires a more in-depth assessment of functioning from several different angles, and the assessment of comorbidities, such as depression or substance use disorders. These comorbidities often co-occur with ADHD and can affect the quality of life of people suffering from these conditions.
Despite their limitations, self-assessment tools are still useful as screening tools that alert an individual to the possibility that she has increased levels of ADHD symptoms. They should consider a medical evaluation. This can be particularly important for a person with concerns that their symptoms may be affecting their quality of life in the workplace, at school or in their family.
Clinical interviews with an ADHD specialist can provide an improved picture and a greater degree of confidence in the diagnosis. They can make use of a variety of tests, including neuropsychological and other performance-based measures and anecdotal evidence from the person's daily life.
Diagnosis
Only a licensed mental health professional who is certified to conduct such evaluations can diagnose adult ADHD. While online tools like self-tests and rating scales could give a clue as to the possibility that your symptoms could be due to ADHD however they cannot offer you an exact diagnosis.
A professional ADHD evaluation consists of a thorough interview, data from independent sources such as a spouse or family member and standardized psychometric tests. The goal of a thorough evaluation is to determine if the person's symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in at least two areas of their life. The signs of impairment could include being fired from a job, experiencing financial difficulties due to not paying bills on time, or experiencing distress and conflict in relationships.
It is essential that patients talk about their symptoms in a candid and honest manner during the clinical interview. Adults who suffer from ADHD tend to shy away from their symptoms because they're embarrassed or worried that others will criticize them. It can be a challenge, but it is important for the doctor to have an entire picture of the individual's life and their symptoms.
The structured diagnostic interview 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 and symptoms checklists, executive function inventories, and impairment/quality of life scores are also beneficial to the evaluation process as they enable the clinician to track the progress of a patient throughout treatment.
Request your primary care physician for a referral to an expert local to you who is skilled in the diagnosis of adult ADHD. You can also seek a referral through your insurance company, call an academic hospital or your local psychology association for help in finding a qualified professional. If you're having trouble finding a specialist in your area, call an organization that offers consultations via video or telephone. These services can be an affordable method to get the help you require today.
Treatment
Adults with ADHD may have difficulties at home, at work and in their relationships. Inattention, disorganization, as well as impulsivity symptoms can affect self-esteem and social functioning leading to frustration and a feeling that things won't be right. It is essential to find a specialist who understands the challenges 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 have to show chronic, severe problems in several areas of their lives. It is important to collect an entire medical history since some diseases can have similar symptoms to ADHD, including thyroid disorders hearing or vision issues and seizures. Certain medications and medicines could also cause signs and symptoms.
Structured diagnostic interviews help clinicians verify that the symptoms being observed are indeed related to ADHD and not related to other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders. This may include questions about the patient's educational, work 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 or hearing or vision issues or sleep disorders.
Other tests are available in addition to the structured interviews. assessment adhd adults could include IQ and achievement tests, and a variety of neuropsychological or psychological tests. These tests do not diagnose ADHD however they do provide valuable information regarding the effects of ADHD on an individual.
Once a correct diagnosis has been made, psychosocial and pharmacological treatments are typically employed to treat the symptoms. These treatments can be employed as a pair or in combination. For instance the patient could be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and alter "thought distortions" and increase his ability to prioritize tasks and manage his time. ADHD medication can also be used to reduce the inattention and impulsiveness that makes it difficult for patients to finish their school or work assignments.
Adults with newly diagnosed ADHD or uncontrolled symptoms are advised to consult their doctor within the next 30 days. Following that, regular follow-ups are recommended until symptoms and functioning have improved. It is also important for the health care professional to monitor comorbid conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders, while undergoing treatment.
Support
Adults with ADHD can find support in many ways. Some adults with ADHD feel comfortable in online forums or virtual peer support groups like those offered by ADDitude Magazine. They can also connect with others by attending local support groups or camps for teenagers, kids and adults with ADHD. These groups can provide 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 tools do not give an accurate diagnosis. The symptom guidelines in the DSM-V are specifically designed to help diagnose children, and an adult ADHD diagnosis is only derived from a comprehensive clinical evaluation that includes structured diagnostic interviews and a range of objective tests. Neuropsychological tests and performance-based assessments are particularly useful in assessing executive function deficits. They permit a doctor to observe symptoms in action and can provide a better understanding of the severity of impairment than self-report instruments.
In addition to evaluating the patient, it is important to conduct interviews with the people who are in the patient's lifelike spouses or partner, parents, siblings and even employers. It isn't easy for the person being assessed to open up and discuss their concerns. Most people with ADHD have a limited awareness of how their behavior affects others around them and could be hesitant to speak about the negative effects of their behavior.
A thorough assessment requires a thorough review of the patient's history to identify possible mental and non-psychiatric disorders which could be the cause of the symptoms. It is not uncommon for someone with ADHD to have more than one disorder at the same time.
Since symptom ratings are dependent on subjective perceptions, it is essential that people with ADHD have someone else take part in questionnaires designed to assess their symptoms and their impact on their quality of life. The person to fill out the questionnaire should be close to the person, such as an adult sibling, parent or acquaintance who can verify their observations. Some doctors request that a trusted friend or employer fill out a similar form to obtain additional information that is not available during an interview with a clinician.