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ADHD in Adults What You Need to Know ADHD is a condition that can cause issues with focus and hyperactivity It can also cause issues at work school as well as in relationships Your healthcare provider will use the most current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 DSM5 to diagnose ADHD They will also consider how your symptoms affect your everyday life Symptoms ADHD is often viewed as an illness that only affects children but it is also common among adults Many people with ADHD remain undiagnosed until their symptoms become severe and affect their lives This can lead to issues with relationships at work with family members and health Talking with a therapist or a doctor if you think you might be suffering from ADHD is an excellent idea They can diagnose you and recommend treatment A thorough history of your clinical condition is the first step to diagnosing your condition This includes a complete review of your medical mental and personal medical history from childhood until today This will enable the doctor to identify the current symptoms The physician should ask about the impact of the symptoms on the daily activities of a person and whether they interfere with social school or work performance Based on the severity of the symptoms there are different types of medication that can be prescribed to help treat ADHD They include stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin and nonstimulant drugs Other options include behavior therapy and lifestyle adjustments This can aid in improving your concentration decrease anxiety and stress and control the impulsive and hyperactive behavior In addition to a physical examination your doctor will ask you about any other mental health issues that could cause similar symptoms to those of ADHD These include anxiety depression or a substance abuse disorder such as alcohol or nicotine abuse To help assess your concentration and distractibility shortterm memory and focus youll be asked to accomplish a variety tasks These tasks can be completed at home or in an office Your doctor will also inquire if you have any other mental health issues including anxiety or depression They will also take a look at your sleeping habits your diet as well as other factors to determine if they are contributing to your symptoms The test results should show the presence of any symptoms If you have these symptoms It is time to seek advice from a specialist They will be able to diagnose you with ADHD and suggest treatment which may include treatment with medication behavioral therapy or lifestyle adjustments Diagnosis ADHD is a disorder of the mind that affects behavior attention and other executive functions It isnt easy to diagnose but it can be treated with medications and behavioral therapy Many people with ADHD symptoms will first try selfassessment instruments before going to an experienced mental health professional or doctor Some of these tools include a selfreport form with 40 items form as well as an online screening test that will aid in determining if you have ADHD These tests arent able to diagnose ADHD and arent intended to replace professional assessments To determine your condition accurately an expert in the field will use an amalgamation of interviews questionnaires and testing This includes a thorough medical account of your history a list of symptoms as well as questions about how they affect your life in different scenarios The clinician may also interview your parents partner or other loved ones who know you well In order to diagnose ADHD your clinician must see that you have five or more persistent recurring symptoms of inattention or hyperactivityimpulsivity that cause significant impairment This means that your symptoms are interfering with your life such as at your school or work environment with friends or relatives or in other settings The symptoms youre having may be brand new or have been being present for a while but they must have been present prior to the age of 12 to meet the criteria for the diagnosis You might be asked to review old school reports or ask your parents to fill in an retrospective ADHD profile of your behavior in childhood When you meet the criteria for a diagnosis your clinician will then determine whether you have a combination of both inattention and hyperactivityimpulsivity presentations or a single presentation If you have both and your doctor is looking for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms to ADHD A doctor can also ask you to fill out ADHD surveys They dont serve as a diagnostic tool but can provide information about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life These surveys arent designed to diagnose ADHD however they could aid your healthcare provider in determining whether you are suffering from it and the best treatment for you Treatment Treatment for ADHD in adults is generally a combination of medicine behavior strategies life skills training and therapy It could take some time to find the best combination that will work for you ADHD medication is the most popular treatment option They are designed to regulate and increase brain neurotransmitters They also aid in improving focus reduce impulsivity and decrease hyperactivity They can help you control your ADHD symptoms and make you feel better Stimulants like methylphenidate Ritalin or amphetamine Adderall are among the most wellknown prescription drugs Although theyre effective for most people and can cause constipation side effects such as lower sex drive and constipation can occur Another medication atomoxetine or strattera has been approved for ADHD Although it isnt as effective as stimulants but doesnt have the exact same adverse consequences its very effective Many ADHD patients are able to treat themselves with antidepressants These drugs such as Bupropion Wellbutrin and Fluoxetine Prozac are not used to treat the condition but can alleviate symptoms These medications are typically prescribed to treat anxiety depression and other mental health problems that are caused by ADHD If you have ADHD as well as other ailments your doctor may suggest you visit an psychiatric or mental health professional who specializes in treating ADHD These professionals can review your medical background family history and other symptoms to determine the cause of your problems Your doctor may also ask you about any physical or mental health issues such as anxiety depression or substance abuse as well as other physical or mental ailments These ailments can affect your ability to focus and learn and be productive at work school or in relationships To identify ADHD symptoms your doctor will use the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM5 This is the standard handbook that is used by the majority of healthcare professionals to diagnose Your healthcare doctor will conduct a series interviews and tests as part of the assessment This includes a comprehensive diagnostic interview DSM5 symptom checklists and an standardized scale for rating behavior for ADHD Prevention ADHD can be prevented by early detection and intervention This can decrease the severity of the disorder and affect school performance enhance the normal development and growth and improve the quality of life for people diagnosed with ADHD There are many methods to reduce or prevent the development of ADHD in adulthood These include psychotherapy medication and strategies for managing behavior In addition the support of immediate family members can aid Psychostimulants are a primary treatment for ADHD in adults They include amphetamines sodium that are sold under the brand Adderall and methylphenidate It is sold under the brand name Ritalin Concerta Metadate If the person with ADHD is in a position to regularly take psychostimulants they are likely to notice an immediate improvement in their symptoms In addition the patient might learn to manage their behaviors and improve their relationships with other people The most effective medication is utilized in conjunction with an ADHD diet or brain training program as well as exercise These techniques are highly effective in treating children with ADHD and are likely to have a transformative effect for adults as well In addition to medications counseling and educational programs can be extremely effective for adult patients These programs can help patients learn the skills to cope boost selfesteem and change negative mental patterns that contribute to their behavior problems adhd test online for adults can assist people in managing the effects of ADHD and other mental disorders such as depression and substance misuse It can also help them overcome resentment and stress that are sometimes associated with ADHD Other interventions such as physical activity diet changes and stress reduction programs can also be beneficial for people with ADHD These strategies can help improve focus and reduce impulsive and hyperactive behaviors Despite this many adults suffering from ADHD arent treated or diagnosed due to racial or ethnic differences in the treatment and diagnosis of ADHD For example that blacks and Hispanics are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than whites even though both groups have the same number of children affected by the disorder The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than 4 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with ADHD However research suggests that the actual number of adults with this disorder is far greater than this figure