Getting Diagnosed With ADHD
It's typical for people to wait until adulthood before being diagnosed with ADHD. This can lead to complicated emotions. Matlen was relieved to finally understand the reason for her symptoms.
The first step in getting a diagnosis is to talk to your family physician. They might refer you to a mental health specialist who can assess your ADHD symptoms.
1. Talk to your family doctor
You should make an appointment as soon as you can with your family doctor if you suspect that you might be suffering from ADHD or were told by someone else that you could. Your doctor can determine whether ADHD medication is right for you, or if a different specialist is required. Your doctor can help locate resources that can ease your symptoms.
A person has to show several symptoms that persist throughout adulthood and interfere with their lives in a variety of way. ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood. However, the disorder may persist into adulthood. Most adults are diagnosed later in their lives.
It is crucial that you are as specific as you can when describing your symptoms. You will need to tell your doctor how long symptoms have been present, when they started and what types of activities or settings they are exhibited in. You might need to explain how the symptoms affect your relationships or your work.
It is also helpful to provide your doctor with examples of the behavior that you or your child are struggling with. This can help them to see that the problem is real and not something else, such as depression or anxiety.
Your doctor may suggest that you take a medication to treat your ADHD. You should discuss all of the possibilities with your doctor, including natural remedies and other types of medications that have been shown to be effective in treating ADHD symptoms. Your doctor will likely provide you with instructions on how to take your medication and the frequency you'll need to take it.
2. Talk to a psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical professional who has earned a medical degree and a four-year residency in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are experts in diagnosing and treating mental disorders, including ADHD. They are licensed to prescribe medications in Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, and the US territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. They frequently consult with primary care physicians or family practitioners for patients who may need psychotherapy.
Psychiatrists can be very helpful for adults diagnosed with ADHD. They can help adults with ADHD to understand the root of their symptoms and how to manage their symptoms. This could include psychotherapy or taking medications like Adderall or Ritalin which increase brain levels of dopamine. They can also discuss strategies to manage relationships, work, and other aspects of life with ADHD.
ADHD can cause problems at home and at work. They might not be able to keep track of appointments and deadlines, and have trouble keeping the track of important information. People with ADHD struggle to concentrate for long periods of time, which can make it difficult to begin or complete projects. Other mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, may interfere with concentration and make it difficult to concentrate.
A psychiatrist who is trained in the treatment and diagnosis of mental disorders may be able to help you. They are trained to recognize a variety of conditions that can coexist with ADHD. The emotional sensitivity and impulsivity that are a part of ADHD can be quite similar to mood disorders and anxiety. If your physician isn't able to provide a thorough understanding of the relationship between these disorders, you may get a wrong diagnosis that could result in a negative or ineffective treatment.
3. Talk to the Child Psychiatrist
There's a good chance your family doctor will refer you to a specialist, such as an child psychiatrist or psychologist who is specialized in working with children. It's important to find a doctor you and your child can trust. It may take some research and a little trial and error to find the right specialist for your family.
Ask your potential specialist how many ADHD cases they've handled and what treatment plan they followed. You can ask other parents of children who suffer from adhd for advice. You can also contact your health insurance provider for the list of specialists within your network.
Your doctor will likely run certain diagnostic tests, such as a vision and hearing check, to make sure there's nothing else that could be causing your child's or yours's symptoms. They'll then speak to you and your child to gather the full picture of their behavior. Your doctor will most likely use the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-V) to determine if you or your child suffer from ADHD. According to the DSM-V, a person has to show at least six of nine inattention and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms before age 12 to be diagnosed with ADHD. They must also show the symptoms in more than one setting--school or at home, and cause significant impairment.
Some people with ADHD don't show any symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. Others may only experience mild or moderate symptoms. It is crucial to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as you can and start treatment immediately. This will help manage your symptoms or those of your child. A timely diagnosis can avoid years of stress and inadequacy.
4. Talk to your Pediatrician
The doctor should inquire with your child about their symptoms, when they started and how they impact home and school. They should also interview your child and others who know them well like their teachers, to get information about how the symptoms have affected them. They could ask your child and you to complete rating scales or other tools for evaluating. They should also go through any medical records and educational reports, and perform an evaluation to rule out learning disabilities or other disorders that have similar symptoms to ADHD.
They should also discuss treatment options with you. This should include a medication regimen, a diet and exercise program psychotherapy, educational strategies and parent training or education programs. Ask your pediatrician about behavior therapy or other non-medical methods of managing ADHD. If they do not need to seek out a health professional who is well-versed in these options.
A pediatrician or family physician who is interested in ADHD will be able to diagnose ADHD in children. To be able to be considered to have ADHD they must show at minimum six of nine signs of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity in more than one situation in a way that they significantly interfere with normal functioning. Clinicians frequently alter the criteria used to diagnose ADHD in older teens and adults. This criteria is usually less stringent, because it's not uncommon for the symptoms to persist into adulthood. They will look over the child's medical history as well as mental health condition, and interview the child, as well as any other caregivers. adhd diagnoses will also gather information about the child's educational, social environment, and upbringing.
5. Speak to a Child Psychotherapist
With the national conversation about mental health and wellbeing focusing on more and more issues, there is an increased interest in treatment for psychological issues. Psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of ailments including ADHD. When looking for a child psychologist, it is important to find a psychologist who is familiar with the condition and has experience in treating it. You could ask your family physician for a recommendation, or search on the internet or in directories of psychologists. Be sure that you are at ease with the psychologist and that they understand your concerns.
For a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, they must demonstrate at least six symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity. These symptoms should be present for at least six consecutive months in two or three different settings. This could include at school, home and social situations. ADHD symptoms are distinct from normal behavior, and can cause problems at school, work and in relationships. They can also cause problems in daily life. They can lead to issues with self-esteem, academic problems and frustration with other people. They can also create tension between parents and their spouses or children, and cause stress at home.
Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications. If your child is being treated by a therapist and still has symptoms of ADHD, you may want to consider having them see a psychiatrist. The aim is to address the behavioral and emotional issues that are causing difficulties at the classroom, at home and in their relationships with their family and friends. Effective treatment includes a combination of therapy and parent education, as well as training, school assistance and medication. While many people are influenced by medication for ADHD, it can be used to treat various conditions. It's not a cure-all for ADHD and shouldn't be the only treatment option.