If you are concerned that you may have ADHD, the first step is to see a doctor. They will most likely refer you to a psychologist. A psychologist can only make a diagnosis after a detailed assessment of your behaviour. There are many behavioural disorders that can cause symptoms of ADHD, especially in young children.
These symptoms must be present in two or more settings (for example, home, work, or school; with friends or relatives; in other activities) and interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, school, or work functioning. Adults who think they may have ADHD should talk to their health care provider.
While we think of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as an illness that affects children, it can last into adulthood—and some people aren't diagnosed until much later in life. ADHD is diagnosed like any other mental illness, so your family doctor is a good place to start.
State ADHD as your reason for seeing the doctor when you make your appointment. Don't just bring it up at the end of an appointment for something else. Instead, make an appointment specifically to discuss ADHD.
Attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) can be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a pediatrician or family doctor, a nurse practitioner, a neurologist, a master level counselor, or a social worker.
Environmental Conditions. Stress or a sudden life change, such as a move, parents' divorce, a death, financial difficulties, and even a new sibling, can evoke ADHD-like behaviors.
ADHD can be similar to other mental health conditions, so it's easy to misdiagnose. Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder can have some crossover symptoms with ADHD, like inability to focus and impulsivity. So can learning disabilities.
Lack of executive functioning skills. For people with ADHD, time management isn't the only difficulty. Other executive functioning skills can be challenging too, making it hard to manage the details of your life. A person with ADHD will find it difficult to organize their thoughts and manage their schedule.
For adults, doctors may use: Adult ADHD Clinical Diagnostic Scale (ACDS): This is an interview of 18 questions about ADHD symptoms. Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Symptom Assessment Scale (BADDS) for Adults: This is a set of 40 questions that look at attention, memory, and mood issues.
Your doctor doesn't think that you might have ADHD.
There are two reasons for this. Clinicians are given little or no training in recognizing ADHD. ADHD is the only medical condition for which there is no textbook.
Be specific when describing your concerns
We talked about the potential symptoms you might experience when you have ADHD, but your doctor needs to know about your specific concerns and how the symptoms impact your life. Explain the challenges you're facing with ADHD and how often these challenges occur.
While no laboratory test can diagnose adult ADHD, it is necessary to obtain a baseline liver function testing result and a complete blood count before commencing pharmacotherapy, as well as serial measurements to follow up the patient on drug therapy. Hyperthyroidism is a condition to be excluded.
For adults, at least five established ADHD behaviors in one category (inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity) for six months. Adults or children must have symptomatic behavior in two or more settings, like at home, school or on the job, usually as identified by two or more observers.
However, it can also lead to potential misinterpretation of symptoms. Take, for example, ADHD. While most people associate ADHD with hyperactivity and impulsivity, it can also manifest in more subtle ways, such as through intrusive thoughts and overthinking.
BED affects around 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men in the U.S. An estimated 30 percent of them have ADHD. Researchers believe that ADHD symptoms like impulsivity and inattention play a role. With BED, people often eat large amounts of food quickly, even when they're full.
ADHD and fatigue share a connection as they both primarily affect your brain and executive functioning. They both can have their roots in how your brain is wired and ultimately operates. As a result, people with ADHD tend to be more prone towards developing cases of regular and chronic fatigue.
Sometimes, individuals with ADHD Inattentive Type will be mischaracterized as shy or withdrawn. But like the more familiar ADHD, this condition can be diagnosed and treated effectively.