ADHD: Where to Start

Have you noticed more people around you speaking about ADHD or seen ADHD related content popping up on social media? You’re not alone – ADHD seems to have come into the spotlight recently, and it’s helping more people to understand what this development disorder looks like. For some people, this has helped them to recognise that there may be a deeper reason for persistent problems that they have experienced since childhood. If you want to learn more about where to start with ADHD, this blog post will help to further your knowledge and understanding.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a complex developmental disorder that usually begins in childhood, which sometimes can persist into adulthood. It primarily consists of persistent problems with inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness which often leads to poor performance at work, relationship issues, and low self-esteem. Hyperactivity usually reduces in adulthood and can be replaced by restlessness. Symptoms tend to decline with age.

Most people experience symptoms similar to ADHD at different points in time, but ADHD can only be diagnosed when symptoms are severe enough to cause ongoing problems across multiple areas in your life, and can be traced back to childhood.

Considering we all experience some symptoms similar to ADHD at some point, you may be wondering what ADHD feels like. People who have ADHD often experience their emotions deeply, so that they feel overwhelmed by them. This could be positive emotions like joy or excitement, or negative emotions like anger or confusion. Sometimes, these deep emotions can lead to impulsive behaviours that may cause regret later. Intense emotions and overwhelming thoughts can also make it difficult to focus on conversations or the world around you, because your mind is too loud and takes up your attention.

How ADHD Presents in Females

An important consideration when discussing the presentation of ADHD is that it can often show up differently in females. This means that women often go undiagnosed with ADHD, because the symptoms can be less obvious or socially disruptive and are therefore overlooked.

In men and boys, symptoms often include restlessness, impulsivity, fidgeting, impatience, mood swings and disruption. However, in women ADHD generally presents as inattentiveness – difficulty to focus, stay organised, remember things, listen and pay attention to details.

These symptoms can often be considered personality traits in women, so they cannot get the help that they need. This is why we believe it’s so important to educate on how ADHD presents in females.

Can ADHD be Cured?

ADHD cannot be cured or prevented, but early diagnosis and a good treatment plan can ensure that the person can manage their symptoms in a way that suits them. In many cases, symptoms can get milder as the person ages, which can help with functioning – as can understanding how to manage their individual symptoms.

How ADHD is Diagnosed

ADHD is diagnosed through a comprehensive ADHD assessment, where we assess for emotional, cognitive and behavioural symptoms for ADHD and provide a comprehensive report with an individualised intervention plan.

These assessments can be used for a psychologist to make an ADHD diagnosis, to enable us to provide support with a treatment plan.

The ADHD assessment is a process conducted over 4 sessions with an experienced psychologist. The psychologist will ask questions and administer questionnaires about the sufferer’s background, educational history and aptitudes and noted changes in their cognitive ability (i.e. memory, focus, concentration, distractibility) to determine if they may have ADHD or other related problems.

Psychwest has appointments available for ADHD assessments now. Book in with our team of experienced Perth psychologists here.

ADHD Assessment - What to Expect

Have you booked in for an adult ADHD assessment with a Psychologist and have no idea what to expect? This blog will answer some of the most common questions that people have before their ADHD assessment.

Why does it take four sessions to assess for ADHD?

Recently, the AADPA released the first ever evidence based clinical practice guidelines for ADHD, where they recommend a minimum of four hours of interviewing in order to make a thorough assessment of ADHD. ADHD is a complex disorder that requires time spent with the client in order to assess appropriately.

What can I expect during the sessions?

For the first session, your Psychologist will ask you a series of questions in order to gather a detailed history of your childhood, development, medical, family/genetic, upbringing and mental health.

They will then provide you with a take home questionnaire: one for you to fill out and another for an observer (usually a spouse, partner, or family member you reside with).

They will also complete a structured interview based on the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, specifically focused on the symptoms of ADHD. This can often take two sessions in itself.

They may administer some screener questionaries for other disorders including autism, anxiety and depression, as these are often co-morbid with ADHD.

What is my Psychologist looking for?

Your Psychologist will be looking for evidence towards all of the criteria needed to confirm the presence of ADHD. This includes evidence that the symptoms were present from early childhood.

They will be looking for symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity/restlessness and impulsivity. They will be looking at the impact and any impairment caused by these symptoms and how long they have been present. They will also consider if these symptoms are caused by another condition or not.

Why do I need to get observer information?

In order to gain a thorough understanding of your difficulties, collateral information from someone who knows you well is needed. These people often observe outwards signs of ADHD including restlessness, disorganisation and hyperactivity and can provide valuable information.

What will I need to provide?

Your psychologist will often ask for some primary and high school reports and completed questionnaires.

Can a Psychologist prescribe medication?

No, Psychologists are not medical doctors. If you are interested in pursuing medication as a treatment option for ADHD, then you will need to book an appointment with a Psychiatrist. Your Psychologist will provide the diagnostic report to the Psychiatrist to aid in this process.

To find out more about the specific packages we offer here at Psychwest, follow this link.