If you’ve ever read something about ADHD and thought it sounded familiar, you’re not alone.
Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult can be validating, but the process of talking to a doctor about ADHD can also feel confusing and intimidating. You might not be sure who to talk to, what to expect during the evaluation, or how to bring it up with your doctor.
If you’re wondering where to start and how to talk to your doctor about ADHD, this blog is for you. We’ll go over who, exactly, to approach about ADHD, the questions to ask, and how to get a diagnosis.
Highlights
- ADHD may remain undiagnosed for years but it is not going away on its own. It’s important to see a healthcare provider and get treatment if any symptoms concern you.
- You can talk to any medical provider about ADHD, including your therapist or primary care physician.
- Your healthcare provider can make a referral if ADHD is out of their area of expertise, or give you treatment options on the spot.
Understanding ADHD
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts as your brain is developing in early childhood. It affects brain skills like attention, focus, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
Although ADHD develops in childhood, many people aren’t correctly diagnosed until they’re adults. If you’ve noticed symptoms that you think might be ADHD, then it’s important to tell your doctor or a mental health provider right away to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Some adult ADHD symptoms you might notice include:
- Having a hard time focusing during conversations, meetings, or any other task you find “boring.”
- Frequently forgetting tasks, appointments, or where you put things.
- Feeling restless or unable to relax, even when you want to.
- Trouble starting tasks, especially ones that feel boring or overwhelming.
- Losing track of time or underestimating how long things will take.
- Interrupting others or blurting things out without thinking.
- Difficulty managing emotions — feeling easily frustrated or overwhelmed.
- Trouble finishing what you start, even when it’s important to you.
- Constantly switching between tasks without completing them.
- Feeling disorganized in your home, workspace, or schedule.
Who to Talk to About Adult ADHD?
Several medical professionals can diagnose ADHD, including:
- General practitioners (GPs) or family doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Nurse practitioners
- Clinical psychologists
- Neurologists (less common, but possible)
- Licensed therapists or counselors
However, it’s best to choose a provider who has experience and expertise in ADHD specifically. Getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult can be tricky. ADHD is still so misunderstood, even within the medical community. It’s wildly underdiagnosed in some populations (women and people of color) while it can sometimes be overdiagnosed in others.
Providers with ADHD expertise can also recommend a treatment plan that’s best for you and your unique needs. They may be more well-versed in the different treatment options that are available, and the pros and cons of each.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and safe with your provider. Even if you’re not getting therapy, you should feel safe enough to tell them a complete history of your symptoms and experiences without feeling judged or shamed.
If you’ve already been diagnosed by another provider, it’s important to tell your primary doctor you have ADHD so that they can understand your health more holistically.
Preparing for Your Doctor's Appointment
After you’ve scheduled your first appointment, there are some things you can do to prepare. Taking these steps before your session isn’t absolutely required, but they can help your provider understand more about what’s going on and increase the likelihood that you’ll get the right diagnosis — and be able to start treatment — sooner rather than later.
- Gather your medical information. This includes both your current symptoms as well as any past mental and physical health history. It may help to keep a diary of symptoms for a few weeks before your session, so you and your provider can better identify what triggers them. If you can, it’s also helpful to gather family medical history — for example, has anyone in your family been diagnosed with ADHD?
- Prepare questions and concerns: Your first session isn’t just about your provider asking you questions — it’s also an opportunity for you to ask them any questions you may have about the diagnosis and treatment process. You may find it helpful to prepare these questions ahead of time so you don’t forget them. We’ve included some common helpful questions to ask your doctor below.
- Involve family or friends for support: Sometimes, it’s tricky to gather all of this information on your own. If you have loved ones in your life that you feel comfortable sharing with, ask them to write down their observations of your symptoms. This can help your doctor get a better sense of how ADHD may affect your life. It may also be possible to invite a loved one to your session if this would make you feel more comfortable.
How Do Doctors Test for ADHD?
Most of the time, doctors test for ADHD using several strategies, including a verbal interview (talking to you about your symptoms), clinical observation (watching you during the session), and — especially for children — observing symptoms in different settings, like at school. For example, a provider might ask a child’s teacher to share their observations of behavior.
There’s no single widely accepted clinical tool or instrument that’s used to measure ADHD, so the questions that are asked could be slightly different depending on the provider you see. Some common questions that could come up include:
- When did you first start noticing these symptoms?
- What kinds of tasks do you find most difficult to complete — at work, school, or at home?
- How do you manage your time and responsibilities day to day?
- Do you often lose or misplace things like your keys, phone, or important documents?
- Do you find it hard to focus during conversations or meetings?
- What happens when you try to sit still or relax — do you feel restless or agitated?
- How do you feel in busy or overstimulating environments, like crowded stores or loud places?
- Have these symptoms impacted your relationships, work performance, or daily routines?
- Do you have a family history of ADHD or learning differences?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with another mental health condition, like anxiety or depression?
ADHD specialists are highly trained in using the answers and observations to determine whether you live with ADHD or if your symptoms might be a sign of another condition. In the United States, they’ll typically be comparing your reported symptoms and their observations with the
Typically, it takes around 1 to 3 hours with you to get enough information to be able to make an accurate diagnosis. If your provider makes a diagnosis after only a few minutes with you, then they may be rushing the process and not have enough information.
Communicating Effectively with Your Doctor: Tips
Talking with your doctor about ADHD may feel awkward, depending on the relationship you have with them. It can be tricky to know when, exactly, to bring it up. So, if you think you’re experiencing ADHD, it’s best to approach your doctor about it as soon as you can. ADHD doesn’t go away when it’s left unaddressed, and you deserve treatment.
Here are some tips that can help you talk to your doctor about ADHD in adults and provide a clear picture of what you’re going through:
- Be honest and specific about what you’re struggling with, even if it feels embarrassing.
- If you’re nervous, write down your thoughts in advance and refer to your notes during the appointment.
- When you discuss ADHD with your doctor, mention how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms — not just in the last few months, but throughout your life if that applies to you.
- Use real-life examples to illustrate how ADHD shows up for you. For example, instead of saying “I’m forgetful,” say, “I often forget meetings at work, even when they’re in my calendar.”
- Let them know what strategies you’ve already used to cope (planners, reminders, etc.) and whether they helped.
- If you suspect ADHD, tell your doctor directly — say something like “I think I might have ADHD, and I’d like to be evaluated.”
- If you’ve already been diagnosed, tell your doctor you have ADHD so they can better understand your full health picture.
- If your doctor isn’t familiar with ADHD in adults, ask for a referral to a specialist.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Here are some questions to ask your doctor about ADHD and its treatment. You can use these questions in the first diagnostic session:
- What’s the process to get diagnosed with ADHD?
- How do you determine whether ADHD or another condition is causing my symptoms?
- Do you have experience diagnosing ADHD in adults?
- What treatment options do you recommend for someone like me?
- Are stimulant medications safe and appropriate for me?
- What are the side effects of common ADHD medications like Adderall?
- Can you refer me to a therapist or ADHD coach?
- Is this something you can treat, or should I talk to a psychiatrist about ADHD?
- What lifestyle changes could support my treatment?
- If I don’t want medication, what are my options?
Treatment Options
So you’ve received an ADHD diagnosis — what’s next? Now, you can talk with your doctor about ADHD treatment.
Some providers, like your primary care physician, may write you an immediate prescription for ADHD medication, if that’s what they’ve decided is the right path for you. They may also make a referral for other types of treatment, like therapy or ADHD coaching. Your doctor should walk you through the different treatment options available to you, and work with you to make decisions that make sense for you and your life.
Some of the most effective ADHD treatment and management methods include:
- Stimulant medications: These are usually the first-line treatment and include medications like Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvanse. They work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain to improve focus and reduce impulsivity.
- Non-stimulant medications: For people who don’t tolerate stimulants well, options like atomoxetine or guanfacine may help. These tend to have fewer risks for misuse but may take longer to show results.
- Psychotherapy: Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can help you build executive functioning skills and cope with the emotional impact of ADHD. Therapy can also help you with co-occurring conditions like depression.
- Lifestyle changes: Things like regular exercise, a consistent sleep schedule, and a healthy diet can make a noticeable difference in ADHD symptoms.
- ADHD coaching: An ADHD coach can help you work on skills like organization, planning, and staying on track with your goals in day-to-day life.
Telemedicine and ADHD
Telemedicine can also be a convenient and effective option for people who want to see a doctor about ADHD. Research shows that
Especially if there are no ADHD specialists in your local area, seeing a practitioner online could be a great choice. However, it’s important to keep in mind that some online practitioners may not have the expertise to be able to treat ADHD effectively: remember to learn more about their credentials and experience.
Takeaway
You don’t need to have all the answers before talking to your doctor about ADHD — you just need to start the conversation. Even if you’re not 100% sure if what you’re experiencing is ADHD, there’s no harm in bringing it up if you suspect it. A provider who understands ADHD can guide you through the evaluation process and help you get the support you need.
The healthcare professionals at MEDvidi are trained in creating treatment plans for ADHD online, providing compassionate, person-specific care that you deserve. You can get an online appointment in 24 hours by signing up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to make an ADHD diagnosis?
It isn’t necessarily “hard,” but it can be tricky because ADHD is so widely misunderstood and, therefore, often goes undiagnosed. General practitioners who don’t have specialized expertise may not catch the symptoms right away, so it’s important to see a qualified healthcare provider.
How do I explain my ADHD symptoms?
It can be difficult to explain ADHD symptoms in a way that makes sense to other people. It can help to keep a diary of your symptoms and write about them beforehand. Also, when you ask a doctor if you have ADHD, they will ask you certain questions that will help you understand whether your experiences are similar to those associated with this condition.
What happens if ADHD remains untreated?
ADHD is unlikely to go away on its own. Without treatment, it can have serious effects on your personal and professional life. It’s essential to bring up ADHD with your doctor if any symptoms concern you.
What is ADHD commonly mistaken for in adults?
ADHD might be misdiagnosed with
Can you live with ADHD without medication?
Yes, there are many ways to manage ADHD without medication, including therapy, coaching, and lifestyle changes.
Can I ask my doctor for ADHD medicine?
Yes, you can talk to your doctor about ADHD medication since it is one of the common treatment options. Some medical providers can prescribe you medication, including online prescriptions, if they think it’s an appropriate course of action for you.
