Many people incorrectly assume attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) only affects children. However, ADHD frequently persists into adulthood. An estimated 2.8% of adults in the UK live with ADHD, experiencing ongoing symptoms like inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity which impair day-to-day functioning.
Yet adult ADHD often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness. This prevents people from getting the treatment and support needed to manage their symptoms. Understanding why ADHD assessment for adults is so vital is the first step to addressing this issue.
Overlooked Symptoms
Unlike childhood ADHD which may involve disruptive behaviour, adults tend to display more subtle symptoms. For example, they may struggle with disorganisation, restless feelings, mood swings and forgetfulness. Such issues can be wrongly attributed to someone’s personality or bad habits rather than an underlying disorder.
Some people with adult ADHD develop coping mechanisms which allow them to obscure symptoms like distractibility at work. However, problems still affect their emotional state or personal lives. Recognising that these difficulties could stem from ADHD is key to accessing appropriate interventions.
Risk of Life Impairments
Living with undiagnosed ADHD puts adults at higher risk of conditions like anxiety and depression. The constant effort to focus and regulate behaviour is mentally and physically draining. Adults may self-medicate with harmful substances due to frustration over their symptoms too.
Additionally, untreated ADHD can negatively impact relationships and job stability. Impulsiveness, emotional outbursts or unreliability stemming from disorganisation strain bonds with partners, children, friends and colleagues. Missed deadlines, careless mistakes and restlessness make workplace troubles more likely too.
The right diagnosis after an ADHD assessment opens the door to practical solutions which can vastly improve wellbeing and quality of life.
Where to Start: Booking an Assessment
The first step for anyone suspecting they have adult ADHD is to book an ADHD assessment with their GP or a psychiatrist specialising in the disorder. Assessments typically involve interviews discussing medical history and symptoms plus computerised tests measuring attention levels.
This process determines whether diagnostic criteria set out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are met. Patients must display at least 5 recognised ADHD symptoms which began during childhood and still significantly hamper normal functioning. Assessments rule out other explanations for symptoms too, like anxiety and sleep disorders.
Benefits of Diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis provides relief for many people after years tolerating debilitating issues without understanding why. It also makes patients eligible for medication and therapies which effectively control symptoms in around 80% of adult ADHD cases.
Common medications include stimulants which boost concentration by influencing brain chemicals linked to impulse control and attention regulation. Talking therapies teach practical organisational skills alongside emotional coping techniques too.
Additionally, being diagnosed means adults can access workplace/education support like deadline extensions, quiet workspaces and more. The recognition of their needs makes daily functioning much less burdensome.
Greater awareness that ADHD persists into adulthood is important to ensure people access vital support. Recognising common adult symptoms and overcoming the barriers to diagnosis are key initial steps. Assessment provides life-changing clarity plus opens doors to medication and therapies which transform how people manage their ADHD.