https://squareblogs.net/costhen26/how-to-tell-if-youre-prepared-for-adhd-adult-diagnosis Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult Many people have mild or moderate ADHD symptoms. If their problems are severe enough to affect the work environment or relationships, they may be diagnosed. They might feel stressed at work or school or feel embarrassed about procrastinating. You can consult your primary care physician for recommendations, or search on the internet for health professionals who perform ADHD assessments. What is the Diagnosis procedure? The process of diagnosis begins with a thorough interview that examines the person's medical history. This includes the family's history as well as significant life events like relationships, work or school performance, drug usage and driving records. This includes lifestyle habits such as sleep, diet and exercise as well as any supplements or vitamins the person is taking. The doctor examines the patient's symptoms and compares them with the diagnostic criteria set out in American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These include symptoms of impulsivity and inattention that are present for at minimum six months, and are significant enough to interfere with work or school and are not better explained by another mental health disorder. Adults have a lower threshold of only five out of nine criteria are needed to identify a mental health condition. The next step is typically an examination of the body, since certain illnesses like thyroid problems and seizures can trigger symptoms resembling ADHD. This gives the healthcare provider more details to pinpoint possible causes and allows them to create the list of "suspects" that they can evaluate with further tests. The tests can involve anything from brain imaging to blood tests to cognitive testing. They can take a while but are crucial to ensure that your doctor doesn't overlook an issue that could be at the root