Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You may interrupt others when they're talking or sneak into rooms without knocking. If these actions cause conflicts in your life, they could be symptoms of ADHD.
Adults who suffer from ADHD frequently suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. The signs of ADHD can be elicited by routine questions in the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD might have trouble coordinating activities paying attention to specifics or committing to commitments. They make impulsive mistakes at school or work, forgets important items like appointments and bills and is unable to stay focused on conversations and leisure activities. A person who is this type is unable to control their emotions and can easily be distracted by the activities of others.
To be diagnosed with ADD, people over age 7 must have been affected by inattention-related symptoms for at least six months. Several of the symptoms must be present on two different occasions, and the patient's problems are affecting social, school or work performance. Parents and teachers must provide feedback, in addition to clinical observation and a thorough medical history. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined are not as apparent and may be difficult to diagnose by family doctors. This is a condition that can be diagnosed by primary care providers.
Diagnosis
ADD is a typical childhood mental disorder however it's often not recognized when you turn an adult. Family physicians are an excellent source of information for diagnosing ADD in adults, particularly those who haven't been diagnosed or discharged.
The diagnosis is based on a medical evaluation, which could include self-ratings and interviews, as well as observation of patients in various situations (e.g. at work, at home or socially), as well as a detailed medical history that considers the past and present challenges and feedback from the school or employer. It is important to rule out other reasons for a person's symptoms that could be related to sleep issues as well as learning disabilities, alcohol or drugs or mood disorders, as these may be similar to ADD.
The earliest definition of ADD included only inattentive problems, but recent studies have shown that people with ADD are equally likely to present with hyperactive-impulsive or combined presentations, and they can have both types of symptoms at different times. Inattentive ADD is diagnosed when the clinician is satisfied that there are six or more inattentive symptoms within two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty focusing, trouble staying on task and disorganization, inability to follow instructions or rules, and easily distracted. Hyperactive-impulsive ADD is diagnosed when the clinician is satisfied there are six or more symptoms in four of the following six categories: fidgeting, excessive talking or interrupting others, being restless, unable to wait for their turn or impulsively leaving their seat.
In order to be diagnosed as having ADD, symptoms must have been evident in at least two areas of a persons life for at least six months. About half of those with ADD suffer from comorbid psychological and mental disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions and bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia), personality disorders, addictions, and anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADD are reversible, but the best approach is to implement strategies that help people organize their lives and implement behavioural changes. Setting goals, making daily routines and using lists and reminding people are all beneficial. It is also essential to educate people about their own triggers for impulsive behavior and provide techniques for controlling them, such as waiting before taking action, evaluating the situation and coming up with different options for action. Sometimes, medication is necessary, but it's important to test one medication before adding another.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD often find they struggle at school, at work or in their personal relationships. They tend to make impulsive mistakes, overlook crucial details and become easily distracted. They are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or substance abuse. Fortunately, many adults have treatment options to aid them in living more successful lives with ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most frequent mental disorders, is often neglected by family physicians. This could be due to the fact that family physicians aren't familiar with the symptom presentation for adults or because those who suffer from ADD/ADHD are often suffering from multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, depression dysthymia) and anxiety or addiction disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is by a thorough assessment that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals as and clinical observation. add symptoms must be persistently problematic and cause significant impairment in multiple environments. In order to diagnose inattention ADD children younger than 17 years of age must display at least six symptomatic signs that are indicative of inattentional behavior. Adults must have at least five of the eleven inattentional behaviors.
Management
It is vital that family doctors recognize ADD in adults because the symptoms can be grave. Inattentive ADD is more frequently recognized in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive type of ADHD but it is not widely understood by family doctors and many patients are not diagnosed. The inattentive version of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, or substance abuse disorders). Treatment is based on support and education and helps patients create more structure in their lives, improving self-esteem and social interaction skills, encouraging an active lifestyle and healthy diet and, if necessary, medication. As high as 60 percent of ADD sufferers get relief from treatment. It should not be used in children as it is not safe for children.