Can you be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult?
Do you have problems with procrastination, disorganization, impulsiveness, moodiness, daydreaming, hyperfocus or forgetfulness?
You may be among the 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. who believe they have undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center survey.
It’s believed that more people have grown familiar with ADHD through online resources. But before you self-diagnose, it’s best to find an experienced clinician, explains Dr. Lance Longo, the medical director of addiction psychiatry at Aurora Health Care. “It’s a complicated diagnosis and illness. No two people experience ADHD in the same way. The things you see online may or may not apply to you.”
Dr. Longo says that a diagnosis of ADHD considers all your behaviors and whether they are causing problems for you in two or more domains of your life – work, personal functioning and family relationships. It also considers whether you had similar behaviors before you were 12 years old. Most adults diagnosed with ADHD fit into the inattentive type which means they don’t have significant hyperactivity.
In his experience, Dr. Longo has found that some people who struggle with addiction have ADHD as an underlying factor. People who have ADHD can also have anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions.
He says that such comorbidities can have symptoms that overlap with ADHD. So, it’s best for doctors to treat the other disorders before evaluating a person for ADHD. That way, any remaining symptoms can be considered separately.
Doctors may also ask for insights from your spouse, friends or family members in addition to reviewing your family history. It takes a skilled clinician to sort out where you do or don’t fit a diagnosis.
Adults with ADHD may be concerned about taking medication because of societal stigma. Ironically, Dr. Longo says there is also resistance in the medical community toward prescribing commonly used stimulants for ADHD because of the risk of addiction. He says such decisions ought to be treated thoughtfully so that people who need treatment can receive it.
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About the Author
Jo Linsley, a health enews contributor, is a freelance copywriter at Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. With decades of experience in writing and editing, she continues to aspire to concise and inspiring writing. She also enjoys knitting and singing as creative outlets and for their meditative qualities.
I know I have ADHD, but really can’t get any help. My life is falling apart.
I do feel I have ADHD, lightly on the HD. I really haven’t any organization skills, I can follow them, but I can not create them. Anything new comes along at work, it takes me several weeks to get them down pat. I am a compulsive shopper, where I spend way too much money on things we really do not need. I need help.