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How do I know if I have ADHD?
Learn a bit more about ADHD and how it is assessed, diagnosed and treated. Did you know that OTs play an important role in helping adults with ADHD live their best life??
How is ADHD diagnosed in adults?
The pandemic threw many of us into a tailspin. It was hard managing all the things that suddenly changed. The routine was no longer as you knew it. It became more difficult to manage all the roles that you were responsible for.
We have emerged from the pandemic yet many of us are still feeling unbalanced. You may have started to hear more and more about adult ADHD. Your social media feed is filled with all things related to ADHD. There is A LOT of misinformation and it can be overwhelming. I’m going to share some facts from credible sources.
A thorough assessment and diagnosis of ADHD should include the following:
A complete physical history as there are many disorders that mimic the symptoms of ADHD.
A personal and family history of mental health disorders. Many mental health conditions can mimic ADHD including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance abuse issues and personality disorders.
A personal and family history of cardiac issues.
A review of childhood symptoms. For a diagnosis to occur, symptoms must have been present by the age of 12. If possible, a review of old report cards or a discussion with parents can be helpful.
Rating scales of symptoms completed by the assessed adult and a significant other. Those with ADHD are not always best at recognizing where they have difficulties.
Vision and hearing tests.
Who can assess & diagnose ADHD?
The following health professionals can assess and diagnose ADHD in Canada:
General Physician (GP or Family Physician)
Pediatrician
Psychiatrist
Neurologist
The practitioner you choose to conduct the assessment must be knowledgeable about ADHD.
Is there a cost for an ADHD Assessment?
The assessment of ADHD is usually covered by provincial health care plans. Always ask if there are any extra fees.
A psychologist can also assess for ADHD. Psychologists are not covered by provincial health plans. You can use extended health benefits to cover a part of the cost. Psychologists also cannot prescribe medication as a treatment option.
How does ADHD affect adults?
Many adults with ADHD underestimate the impact of ADHD symptoms. They have learned to live with ADHD by choosing lifestyles that limit symptoms. This makes diagnosis difficult.
In adults with untreated ADHD, symptoms of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity can:
impair school and work performance
damage self-esteem
interfere with relationships
reduce the chance of success and satisfaction in many areas of life
The role of OT in ADHD
ADHD is a very treatable disorder. Occupational Therapists can help individuals with ADHD by:
Assessing the unique sensory needs of the client
Highlighting the relationship between mood, performance and sensory stimuli
Organizing their physical environment to better meet their habits & routines
Optimizing time management
Enhancing social awareness and interactions
Developing stress management techniques
Tailoring a job to your strengths
Identifying and advocating for workplace/school accommodations
Mindfulness, Nature & ADHD
Mindfulness-based practices in nature can strengthen attention and emotional regulation. This strategy can also improve executive functioning and well-being in adults with ADHD.
Our 5-week Mindfulness in Nature Group begins on May 2, 2024. A Registered Social Worker and Occupational Therapist will lead this group. This group is an opportunity to connect with other adults with ADHD. You will also improve your knowledge and understanding of ADHD. We will help you establish new mindfulness practices to strengthen your mind!
3 Reasons why you should see an OT for an Ergonomic Assessment
Read on to learn 3 reasons why you should see an Occupational Therapist for an Ergonomic Assessment. Many extended health benefit plans cover OT services - so what are you waiting for!?? Get more comfortable at work whether it's your home office or the actual office!
Individual seated at desk hunched over while working on a laptop
Occupational Therapists & Ergonomic Assessments
What is Ergonomics?
You arrive at the office bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to conquer the world. By about 11 am you are starting to fidget and a hotness is pulsing in your lower back. At 2pm you can’t sit in the chair anymore. You start to find reasons to walk about, chat and get a coffee. Yes, it may be the sugary donut that you had for lunch OR it could be the workstation that hasn’t been set up to fit your body.
Ergonomics focuses on designing and arranging objects so that people interact more efficiently and safely with the objects.
Reason 1: You’re working from home on a laptop
Post pandemic hybrid work continues to hold in popularity. At the end of 2023, 12% of employees were splitting their days between the office and home, compared to 4% in January 2022.
If you are a hybrid employee, I am almost certain that you were given little or no guidance on how to set up your home office. I’ll even go further to say that it’s likely that you’re working primarily from a laptop in your home office.
Studies have shown that using a laptop increases:
upper back strain
neck strain
shoulder strain
eye strain
work errors
and limits productivity because you’re not in the best ergonomic position.
Reason 2: You don’t know how to adjust your office chair
Office chairs are fairly standard in the workplace. As a new hire you are assigned a workstation your first day with a chair or you are part of this “hoteling” set up where you never know which chair you will be sitting in from day to day. What a nightmare!
“Show me what your chair does?”
This is the first question that I ask my clients when I’m conducting an ergonomic assessment. We begin by flipping the chair over and checking out the adjustability. If it’s an “ergonomic chair” it should have adjustability and form to your body. This is usually not the case, especially for very short or very tall people. Ergonomic chairs are designed to meet the needs of 90% of the population which means that 10% of people have a chair that will not fit their shape.
open office setting with a row of standard workstations
Reason 3: You’re finishing off your workday in pain
Proactively we should all have our workstation assessed and adjusted to our unique shapes, BEFORE an injury happens. I am certain that there are some of you already experiencing aching and fatigue when at work. You return home at the end of the day, rest and feel better, only to repeat the cycle the next day. I would classify you in the “early stage: of a repetitive strain injury”. Making some changes to your workstation will end the cycle.
The science behind this type of injury is that you are being forced to hold a certain posture. Then your muscles get tired. Tired muscles means blood flow is reduced and the muscle gets weak. Injuries result from weak muscles.
How soon can I book an Ergonomic Assessment?
There are many reasons to schedule an ergonomic assessment. I’ve highlighted 3 issues that I most commonly see.
It’s a new year and it’s time to improve your workplace well-being.
Occupational Therapy is covered by most employee health benefit programs. Check with your insurance provider and determine the annual amount of money that you have access to each year for OT.
Speak to your manager about whether Ergonomic Assessments are available within the organization. Some larger companies have a professional on staff that can do these assessments.
If you would like to find out more about what is involved in an Ergonomic Assessment at Davis OT please head to this page on the website!