If you’ve been feeling like you’re not feeling organized, that you can’t focus, you’re always late, or you’re always feeling overwhelmed, maybe some of these are signs of ADHD. The first step to finding answers is to see a psychiatrist who specializes in adult ADHD in NJ for a professional diagnosis of ADHD.
Evaluations for children with ADHD can include parent and teacher input, but for adults with ADHD, the evaluation process is more complex. The adults have many coping skills, experiences from work, relationships and patterns of life that all play a role in the picture. This step-by-step guide to the evaluation process and what to expect, and where to start treatment for ADHD in New Jersey.
Why Adults in New Jersey Seek an ADHD Evaluation
Many adults have the same problems, and don’t realize that they have a name. They think they are lazy, disorganized, or forgetful when it could actually be due to an undiagnosed ADHD problem.
Adults may get diagnosed with ADHD NJ when they experience the following:
- Long-lasting poor concentration at work or in conversations
- Continued procrastination on important tasks
- Difficulty in time management, resulting in missed deadlines
- Disorganization at home and/or at work
- Failing to keep appointments, bills or commitments
- Wishing you were occupied or ‘scattered’ the whole day long
- Initiating projects but not completing them
- Though diligent, a record of poor performance
If you are familiar with these characteristics and notice you are having any of them in your job, relationships, or everyday life, it might be the right time to consult an adult psychiatrist experienced in treating adults with ADHD.
What Makes Adult ADHD Diagnosis Different
Adult ADHD symptoms tend to be different than those seen in children. Childhood ADHD is often characterised by hyperactivity, whereas adult ADHD is more likely to manifest as:
- Mental agitation, not physical hyperactivity.
- Has trouble focusing during meetings or lengthy tasks
- Irregularity or Frustration/Impatience
- Impaired executive functioning (planning, prioritizing, etc.)
- Frequent lateness or difficulty in time management skills
These symptoms may overlap with the symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress and sleep disorders and so a careful and individual assessment is required. This is where it’s so important to have an experienced psychiatrist help diagnose and treat ADHD.
The ADHD Evaluation Process: Step-by-Step
As for scheduling an evaluation, it’s also best to have an idea of what you can expect to ensure that you don’t have any confusion. Typically, the adult ADHD assessment in New Jersey includes the following parts.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
This is the first appointment about the type of symptoms you are experiencing, and how these affect your life. In this conversation, your psychiatrist will talk to you about:
- Specific difficulties sustaining focus, organizing, completing tasks
- The time these symptoms have been present
- If symptoms started in childhood or in later years of life
- Changes to work, relationships and responsibilities
This is the first step towards all that follows in your ADHD diagnosis journey.
Step 2: Reviewing Personal and Medical History
A comprehensive evaluation of ADHD takes into account more than just what you are currently experiencing. Your psychiatrist will also check your:
- Medical history, including all previous diagnosis and/or treatment
- Anxiety, depression or mood disorder in the past
- Poor sleep hygiene and sleep quality
- Past medications, including other ADHD medications you have taken
- ADHD occurs within a family and is a factor if a family member has a genetic predisposition to ADHD
This information will allow your psychiatrist to determine if ADHD is the main problem, or if other conditions may be causing or contributing to your symptoms.
Step 3: Differentiating ADHD from Other Conditions
In evaluating the diagnosis of ADHD, one of the most crucial steps is to exclude (or confirm) the presence of other conditions that may mimic ADHD symptoms. These include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Chronic stress
- Insomnia or sleep apnea
- Medical conditions, such as thyroid disease
Some adults have ADHD as their only illness. A few also experience ADHD as well as anxiety or depression. Some may have sleep problems or other medical conditions that cause the behaviour which is interpreted as ADHD. An experienced psychiatrist will help to decipher the intertwined symptoms to come up with a correct diagnosis.
Step 4: Discussing Treatment Goals
After your psychiatrist understands your symptoms and history, your discussion moves on to your goals. What aspects would you like to enhance? Common goals include:
- Improved attention and concentration in the workplace
- Better time management and organization
- Reduced procrastination
- Task completion with greater uniformity
- Better emotional regulation
Your treatment goals will be tailored to your personal goals – not a one size fits all approach.
Step 5: Developing a Personalized Treatment Plan
After the evaluation, your psychiatrist will discuss with you what your future treatment options may be, such as:
- Medication management for ADHD (if necessary)
- Healthy lifestyle and behaviours to support concentration and organisation
- Monitor treatment and adjust as necessary; follow up regularly
Most important, however, is the fact that not every treatment of ADHD needs to involve medication. For some adults, medication will be the most effective intervention, for others it may be helpful to use a combination of interventions. Your psychiatrist will discuss the options available based upon your symptoms, history and your preferences.
Telehealth ADHD Treatment: A Convenient Option for NJ Residents
Making time to get to a psychiatric office can be difficult for many adults in New Jersey, due to work, family and other obligations. That’s why telehealth ADHD treatment is important.
Telehealth allows you to:
- Assessment & Review visits from distance, at home/work.
- Avoid going to and from the psychiatrist office.
- Get diagnosed and treated for ADHD by an NJ ADHD specialist anywhere in NJ
- Offering continuing virtual follow-up services
For many patients, the first in-person visit leads to the realization that in-person care and services can be duplicated with telehealth, including ADHD medication and progress check-ins.
How to Get Started with an ADHD Diagnosis in New Jersey
If you feel like you have symptoms listed above, here are the first steps to take:
- Reflect on your symptoms. Notice how focus, organization, time management and follow-through impact daily life, work, and relationships.
- Gather relevant history. Consider your medical history, previous mental health diagnosis, sleeping problems, and past treatments.
- Schedule a consultation. Reach out to a psychiatrist experienced in adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment in New Jersey to schedule your initial evaluation.
- Attend your evaluation. Be open and honest about your symptoms and history. The more information your psychiatrist has, the more accurate your diagnosis will be.
- Have your treatment plan discussed with you. Discuss with a psychiatrist whether it might be beneficial for you to take medication or to make changes to your lifestyle, or most likely a combination.
- Monitor as necessary. Medication may need to be a lifelong treatment for ADHD. After you’ve finished initial treatment, you will need follow-up appointments to make sure the treatment plan is agreed-upon over time.
Why Choosing the Right Psychiatrist Matters
Not all psychiatrists are extensive experts in diagnosing adult ADHD. An assortment of symptoms that accompany ADHD are easily mistaken for anxiety, depression or stress and it helps to have a psychiatrist who is experienced in treating adult ADHD patients and offers you a treatment plan that is suited to you and not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Diagnosis and treatment for ADHD in adults in NJ and New York provided by Dr. John C. Shershow, M.D. including telehealth ADHD treatment options for continued treatment. Shershow brings a wealth of experience assisting adults to recognize their symptoms and get effective results from their treatment plans, and he approaches each evaluation with great thought and care.
If ADHD symptoms are affecting your focus, work, organization, or daily life, taking the first step toward an evaluation can provide the clarity and direction you need.
Schedule an ADHD Diagnosis Consultation Today
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an ADHD diagnosis evaluation take?
An evaluation will last a different amount of time depending on the complexity of your symptoms and history. In most cases, a thorough history taking with a detailed history of symptoms, medical history and issues you are experiencing occurs at the first consultation. Other patients may need more follow up visits before a diagnosis and treatment program are in place.
Can I get an ADHD diagnosis through telehealth in New Jersey?
Yes. Dr. Shershow is among many psychiatrists in New Jersey that provide telehealth ADHD treatment. Follow up appointments and continual evaluation of ADHD medications can often take place virtually, making things more convenient for the patient.
What if I think I have ADHD and anxiety or depression too?
This is common. During an extensive evaluation of ADHD, co-occurring problems such as anxiety and depression will be evaluated. A lot of adults suffer from more than one condition that gives rise to their symptoms and an experienced psychiatrist can assist with formulating the best treatment plan for each of them.
Do I need to bring documents to my ADHD evaluation appointment?
You may need to take or be prepared to have your previous records, a list of the medicines you are taking and have taken, and information about your symptoms and how they impact your life. The information enables your psychiatrist to create a more thorough picture during your ADHD diagnosis appointment.
Is medication required after an ADHD diagnosis?
No. ADHD treatment doesn’t always require medication. Your psychiatrist will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and personal preferences to determine whether ADHD medication management, lifestyle strategies, or a combination approach is most appropriate for you.
Can adults be diagnosed with ADHD for the first time later in life?
Yes. ADHD can be diagnosed at any point after the age of 25. Previously manageable symptoms make people more aware of them and spur adult requests for reassessment, as increased occupational or family demands observe symptoms more clearly.
How do I know if I should seek an ADHD diagnosis in New Jersey?
If chronic issues with focus, time management, organization, procrastination, or follow-through are affecting your work, relationships, or daily life, it may be worth scheduling a consultation with a psychiatrist who specializes in adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment.