ADHD is a lifelong disorder that affects people of all ages, not just children. ADHD can be overwhelming to deal with. Many adults struggle with societal issues without knowing they have ADHD. Going for an ADHD test would help such adults get the correct diagnosis and vital medication they badly need.

ADHD in Adults

ADHD affects about five percent of adults. ADHD sometimes continues into adulthood and can affect how a person functions socially or occupationally. ADHD usually lasts throughout an individual’s lifetime, although symptoms change over time.

Adult ADHD Symptoms are not uniform. So, they can vary from person to person. However, there are common ADHD symptoms that include:

• difficulty paying attention
• impulsiveness
• hyperactivity
• restlessness

 ADHD symptoms may be more severe in adults than children. Unknown to many people, ADHD doesn’t affect intelligence or the ability to cope with life’s challenges. Therefore, after an ADHD test and with appropriate social support, ADHD adults can live a comfortable life.

ADHD Test

Before concluding that an adult has ADHD, an ADHD test should be administered. A doctor does ADHD tests. They typically ask questions about the adult’s behavior at home, school or work. An ADHD test can help determine the severity of ADHD symptoms and whether treatment is necessary for an adult’s ADHD condition to improve daily function.

ADHD symptoms can be similar to other conditions. Therefore, only an ADHD test would reveal ADHD. After an ADHD test confirms that an adult has ADHD, treatment can be used to manage ADHD symptoms.

It can improve focus, concentration and impulse control in adults. ADHD medication is often taken daily for an entire lifetime. However, some people may need a decrease in dosage when they reach their mid-twenties or thirties.

What you should know about medications for Adults with ADHD

ADHD treatment is available in several forms, and ADHD symptoms can be treated with ADHD medication or ADHD therapy. When an adult has their ADHD medication, they should take it simultaneously every day to help manage ADHD symptoms throughout the day.

It’s important to understand that ADHD affects every person differently, so each ADHD treatment plan will be different for the patients. While one adult with ADHD may find relief from taking their medication at night, another may find ADHD symptoms are more manageable if they take their medication in the morning.

How to take care of an Adult with ADHD

An ADHD test helps to establish if an adult has ADHD or not. Knowing if your loved one has ADHD will help you understand them better. ADHD is a condition that makes it hard for an adult to stay focused and control their behavior. Luckily, the psychosocial support from the parents can help stabilize the adult.

After the ADHD test, it’s time to take care of the adult ADHD patient. An adult’s schedule needs to include calm activities that provide a distraction from ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms are more severe when an individual feels restless or unfocused, and a calm activity like painting can help manage ADHD symptoms. You can use the following parenting tips to take care of an adult with ADHD.

Always make yourself available for the adult. ADHD adults find it difficult to focus, and this makes them lose track of time. Similarly, ADHD adults have a short memory span, making them forget the conversations they had with you minutes ago. So, don’t be offended and don’t yell at them.

ADHD causes impulsivity and being insensitive towards other people’s feelings. ADHD adults should be encouraged to better manage their emotions and temper to avoid hurting others or losing friends. With the permission of your adult offspring, alert the rest about their condition.

ADHD adults will forget many things like making deadlines, commitments they made with work colleagues etc. ADHD adults find it extremely hard to organize themselves, and this might result in missing important events or forgetting about them altogether. Help them remember such information by giving them constant reminders.

Make sure you understand what might trigger ADHD symptoms in them, such as certain foods or activities. ADHD symptoms can be triggered by ADHD medication or being around certain people. Keep such triggers away from ADHD adults.

Be patient and supportive during ADHD re-training time. ADHD training will help the adult learn how to focus on one task at a time without distractions, such as phone calls.

Avoid trying to make them complete too much at once. It’s better to set small goals and accomplish those, rather than feel overwhelmed with work or housework as a whole.

As a parent of an adult with ADHD, it’s important to remember that they are still the same person they were before their diagnosis and have many of the same desires, needs and expectations.

ADHD can really impact their self-esteem, so let them know you love them unconditionally as often as possible. Reassure the adult that you are there for them when they have low self-confidence

Do not take it personally if they seem distracted or disinterested sometimes. ADHD symptoms are real, and even something that seems small to you might be very important for the adult with ADHD.

Please do not give up on them and do not let them give up on themselves. ADHD doesn’t define who they are, but having ADHD makes life more difficult at times, so support their efforts to succeed in whatever way you can!

Parents of adults with ADHD must encourage independence while also providing help when needed. ADHD can make it difficult to accomplish even the simplest tasks.

Takeaway

Even though it’s a noble idea to take care of your adult, you should also care for yourself. ADHD is a condition that can take much of your time and energy, so you must have some support network in place.

An ADHD test is a way to find out if an individual has ADHD. ADHD can be diagnosed in children, but it can also be diagnosed in adults. If you think that an adult might have ADHD, then make sure to get them tested for the condition as soon as possible to start treatment.