Identifying ADHD while learning about my son’s

[BrainSaladMa]

hello! I’m grateful to have help here. My son has had various ADHD struggles in his first year in Kindergarten. I’m learning how to advocate for him and get him on the right meds to support him. While reading How to ADHD book (which is fantastic btw!) I was stunned by how I felt seen by the author. I’m 95% sure that I’ve always had ADHD but was never diagnosed or even considered it because I was “gifted academically”.

What are some recommended steps to getting support and possibly diagnosed in my older age? TIA!

[Mamamichl]

I have the same struggles. I wasn’t diagnosed until my kid was when I was 38. Talk to your doctor. I recommend asking for a neuro psychological assessment. It’s 6 hours or so of asking about memories feeling and possible symptoms. They may have to do a questionaire

[Popsicle2024]

you can see your primary care physician or GP and ask him to refer you to a psychiatrist. Most psychiatrists can diagnose adults with ADHD by taking a detailed history of your childhood and asking for collateral history from people who knew you as a child: your parents or siblings. Don’t forget that ADHD affects executive functioning and it’s not just the inattentive or hyperactive symptoms that you need to worry about. Also anxiety symptoms can overlap with ADHD symptoms so be careful about self diagnosing. A good psychiatrist will take a history of your entire life and decide if you meet the criteria for ADHD.

[STEM_Dad]

Welcome to the community BrainSaladMa !

Feel free to also join the adult ADHD forum on this site. You might get some more answers to your questions there.

healthunlocked.com/adult-adhd

(Some of us are on both forums.)

Before meeting with a provider about an assessment, take some time to journal about the struggles you have that seem like ADHD, and also write about memories as far back as you can recall which also seem like ADHD.

• Bring these notes with you, so that you don't have to try to recall the details while you're in the appointment.

[Mamamichl in reply to STEM_Dad]

Good point. Notes are helpful to remember details.

[STEM_Dad in reply to Mamamichl]

I know that if someone is telling me something and I need to remember it then I have to write it down.

So, I realized that the reverse is true as well...if I need to remember to tell someone something, I write it down.

[Mamamichl in reply to STEM_Dad]

I have notes for my counseling appts, and talking points I want to address. Stated it recently. About 3 months ago, I did the same with my job and put it in a bullet journal. Really helpful.