Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You may interrupt others when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. If these actions cause conflict in your life, they could be symptoms of ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently suffer from mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders. Questions that are routinely asked during a clinical interview can reveal signs of ADHD.
Symptoms
A person with ADD is unable to pay close attention to details, organizing tasks, or executing on commitments. He or she makes impulsive mistakes at school or work, and forgets important things like appointments and bills, and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Someone with this kind of personality struggles to control their emotions and can easily be distracted by the activities of others.
To be diagnosed with ADD they must have had inattention symptoms at least six months prior. A number of symptoms have to be present on two distinct occasions and the patient's difficulties must interfere with school, social or work-related functioning. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers, as well as an examination of the patient's clinical condition and a thorough history. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined aren't as evident and are often difficult to identify by family doctors. It is a condition that can be identified by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is one of the most common childhood mental health issues, it's not always recognized until later in life. Family physicians are an excellent resource to diagnose ADD for adults, especially those who haven't been diagnosed or have been discharged.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical assessment, which can include self-ratings, an interview and observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at work, at home or socially), as well as a detailed medical history that includes both past and current difficulties and feedback from the school or employer. It is important to exclude other causes for the symptoms a person experiences, such as sleep disorders or learning disabilities, as well as mood disorders.
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 a doctor is satisfied that there are six or more indicators of inattention in two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention, trouble staying on task and disorganization, inability to follow instructions or rules, apathy 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 general, to be considered to have ADD the symptoms must have been present for at least 6 months and have caused impairment in two different areas of a person's daily life. About half of those who suffer from ADD have comorbid psychological and psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions, bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and personality disorders, addictions, and anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADD are reversible, however the best approach is to implement strategies that help people to organize their lives and make behavioural changes. Setting goals, routines for the day and using lists and reminders can be helpful. It is important to help people learn to manage their impulsive behavior as well as what causes them. Techniques like waiting before acting or evaluating a scenario and coming up with alternatives are useful. Sometimes medication is necessary, but it's important to test one medication before adding another.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD typically struggle at school, at work or in their relationships with family and friends. symptoms of add in adults tend to make careless mistakes, forget crucial details and become easily distracted. They are also more likely to be suffering from anxiety, depression or abuse. There are many adults who find treatment options that can assist them in living more productive lives with ADHD or ADD.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most prevalent mental disorders, is frequently neglected by family physicians. This could be due to the fact that doctors in the family are not familiar with adult ADD/ADHD symptoms or because a large number of people with ADD/ADHD have comorbid disorders, such as anxiety or mood disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is dependent on an assessment that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, clinical observation, and a thorough history. The symptoms must be persistently challenging and cause significant impairment in multiple situations. Children under the age of 17 have to have at least six symptoms that fall into the inattentive category and adults need at least 5 of the 11 symptoms to meet a diagnosis of inattentive ADD.
Management
Family physicians must recognize ADD in adult patients because the issue could be serious. Inattentional ADD is more often diagnosed in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive type of ADHD but it is still not well understood by family physicians and many patients are left undiagnosed. In symptoms of adhd in adults , the inattentive form of ADD is mistakenly identified as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder), anxiety, or substance use disorders. Treatment is based on support and education, helping patients develop more discipline in their lives, enhancing self-esteem and social skills, encouraging an active lifestyle and healthy diet and taking medication when needed. As high as 60 percent of ADD sufferers benefit from treatment. It is not recommended for children.