Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Adults Get TestedAvailable ADHD TestsWho Can Diagnose ADHD in Adults?After An ADHD Diagnosis

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why Adults Get Tested

Available ADHD Tests

Who Can Diagnose ADHD in Adults?

After An ADHD Diagnosis

Close

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s executive functioning, impulse control, and focus. Although ADHD symptoms can be behavioral, it is a brain difference that a person is born with.

The symptoms ofinattentive typeADHD include:

The symptoms ofhyperactive-impulsive typeADHD include:

Symptoms typically manifest in early childhood, interfere with functioning, and are not attributed to another medical issue or mental health diagnosis. To be diagnosed withADHD, you must have six or more symptoms of inattentive type ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD, or both.

Indecision in ADHD

Reasons to Get Tested for ADHD as an Adult

People with ADHD are born with brain differences from those who do not have ADHD. However, these symptoms might not manifest until later in life. This can occur when people with ADHDmasktheir symptoms due to protective influences such as parental organization or high IQ, or there is a misdiagnosis with another condition such asanxiety.

When someone masks their ADHD symptoms, they may go undiagnosed until adulthood. Neurodevelopmental differences often manifest in childhood, but if a person is able to compensate for their symptoms, they might not display symptoms until they are older.

Sometimes, when someone has compensated for a long time, they reach a point when their masking strategies are no longer effective, and they cannot hide their difficulties any longer.

For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased stress levels that interfered with their ability to compensate for attention issues or executive dysfunction. Additionally, working from home created the added challenge of living at work and having more freedom over the structure of the day. Many adults reported increased stress, more difficulty with decision making, and more mental health issues than before the pandemic, leading to an increase in seeking services and evaluations.

Since many think of ADHD as a childhood diagnosis, it can be challenging toget diagnosed as an adult. Adults might attribute their symptoms todepression, not realizing that they have ADHD. However, tests and assessments for adults with undiagnosed ADHD are available.

What Does Undiagnosed ADHD Look Like In Adults?

What Adult ADHD Tests Exist?

Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult can be challenging because symptoms look different in children when compared to adults, and many specialists primarily diagnose children. For example, adults might not manifest as many hyperactive symptoms as children or might experience hyperactivity in the form of racing thoughts rather than body movements.

There are several measures that providers can use to assess adults for ADHD:

It can be overwhelming to find a provider to evaluate you for ADHD. Your primary care provider orinsurance companymight be able to provide you with referral information for an evaluation. If you have an individual therapist, they might have referral options as well.

Many psychologists have training in psychological evaluations. Additionally, some psychiatrists are able to assess for and diagnose ADHD. If there is a graduate psychology program or medical school in your area, they might offer assessments. You can searchtherapist directoriesfor providers who specialize in ADHD assessment and treatment.

Does Health Insurance Cover Therapy?

What Happens After You Are Diagnosed?

If you meet criteria and are diagnosed with ADHD, your provider should provide you with treatment options and recommendations.Many organizationsoffer free resources and education about ADHD that can help you understand your symptoms and put you in touch with sources of support. These resources can also help yourloved onesunderstand your diagnosis.

Depending on your needs and preferences, you might benefit fromtherapy servicesto help you manage your symptoms or treat any other diagnoses you might have in addition to ADHD. Your provider might also recommendmedicationto manage your symptoms. You can ask questions and determine what treatment options are right for you.

Although it can be challenging or scary to seek support for undiagnosed ADHD as an adult, support is available, and it is never too late to be assessed.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-V, doi-org.db29.linccweb.org/10.1176/ appi.books.9780890425596.dsm02.Canady VA.APA: Decision‐making a struggle for young adults during COVID.Mental Health Weekly. 2021;31(43):7-8.Goodman DW, Mitchell S, Rhodewalt L, Surman CBH.Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in older adults: A review of the evidence and its implications for clinical care.Drugs & Aging. 2015;33(1).Ben-Sheetrit J, Zurawel M, Weizman A, Manor I. Symptoms versus impairment in adults with ADHD: intercorrelations of the BRIEF-A, CAARS, and TOVA. J Atten Disord. 2019;23(13):1557-1566.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-V, doi-org.db29.linccweb.org/10.1176/ appi.books.9780890425596.dsm02.Canady VA.APA: Decision‐making a struggle for young adults during COVID.Mental Health Weekly. 2021;31(43):7-8.Goodman DW, Mitchell S, Rhodewalt L, Surman CBH.Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in older adults: A review of the evidence and its implications for clinical care.Drugs & Aging. 2015;33(1).Ben-Sheetrit J, Zurawel M, Weizman A, Manor I. Symptoms versus impairment in adults with ADHD: intercorrelations of the BRIEF-A, CAARS, and TOVA. J Atten Disord. 2019;23(13):1557-1566.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-V, doi-org.db29.linccweb.org/10.1176/ appi.books.9780890425596.dsm02.Canady VA.APA: Decision‐making a struggle for young adults during COVID.Mental Health Weekly. 2021;31(43):7-8.Goodman DW, Mitchell S, Rhodewalt L, Surman CBH.Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in older adults: A review of the evidence and its implications for clinical care.Drugs & Aging. 2015;33(1).Ben-Sheetrit J, Zurawel M, Weizman A, Manor I. Symptoms versus impairment in adults with ADHD: intercorrelations of the BRIEF-A, CAARS, and TOVA. J Atten Disord. 2019;23(13):1557-1566.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-V, doi-org.db29.linccweb.org/10.1176/ appi.books.9780890425596.dsm02.

Canady VA.APA: Decision‐making a struggle for young adults during COVID.Mental Health Weekly. 2021;31(43):7-8.

Goodman DW, Mitchell S, Rhodewalt L, Surman CBH.Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in older adults: A review of the evidence and its implications for clinical care.Drugs & Aging. 2015;33(1).

Ben-Sheetrit J, Zurawel M, Weizman A, Manor I. Symptoms versus impairment in adults with ADHD: intercorrelations of the BRIEF-A, CAARS, and TOVA. J Atten Disord. 2019;23(13):1557-1566.

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