If you're experiencing several of these symptoms consistently, it may be worth talking to a doctor:
- Difficulty sustaining attention in conversations or tasks
- Getting distracted easily by irrelevant things
- Trouble organizing thoughts or activities
- Frequently losing important items (keys, phone, homework)
- Procrastinating on important tasks
- Feeling restless or fidgety most of the time
- Difficulty staying seated when expected
- Talking excessively or interrupting others
- Acting without thinking about consequences
- Difficulty waiting your turn
- Difficulty managing emotions or mood swings
- Low self-esteem or feeling "broken"
- Struggling to maintain relationships
- Time management difficulties
Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider—usually a psychiatrist, psychologist, or neurologist. During this first visit, they'll:
- Ask about your symptoms and when they started
- Discuss how symptoms affect school, work, and relationships
- Take a family history (ADHD often runs in families)
- Rule out other conditions with similar symptoms
You'll fill out standardized questionnaires such as:
- ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS)
- Conners Rating Scale
- Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)
These help doctors assess symptom severity and type.
Some providers use computerized tests or performance-based assessments to evaluate:
- Attention and focus
- Processing speed
- Working memory
- Impulse control
Your doctor may order:
- Blood tests (to rule out medical causes)
- Thyroid function tests
- Sometimes brain imaging (EEG or MRI)
After all assessments, your doctor will discuss:
- Whether you have ADHD and what type
- Your specific symptom profile
- Treatment options available
- Next steps for management
If you suspect you have ADHD but haven't been diagnosed:
- Write down your symptoms and when they occur
- Note how ADHD affects your daily life (school, work, relationships)
- Gather information about family members with ADHD
- Write any questions you want to ask
- Be honest about your struggles
- Describe specific examples of how symptoms affect you
- Mention if other family members have ADHD
- Ask about different types of ADHD
- Ask what tests they recommend
- Do I have ADHD? What type?
- What treatment options are available?
- What are the pros and cons of medication?
- What therapy or coaching options exist?
- How will we monitor my treatment?
- Are there school/work accommodations I can get?
Psychiatrist: Medical doctor who can diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication
Psychologist: Can diagnose ADHD and provide therapy; cannot prescribe medication (in most states)
Neuropsychologist: Specializes in comprehensive testing of brain function
Pediatrician/Primary Care Doctor: Can diagnose ADHD, especially in children
Once diagnosed, you can:
- Start treatment (medication, therapy, or both)
- Request accommodations at school or work
- Join support communities
- Understand yourself better
- Develop strategies that work for YOUR brain