Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you find yourself unable to remember appointments or tasks at work? You may interrupt others when they are talking or slam into rooms without knocking. If these behaviors cause conflict in your life, they may be signs of ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD often have comorbid mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders. The routine questions that are asked during the clinical interview can reveal the symptoms of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
A person suffering from ADD is unable to pay close focus on details, organising activities, or following through on commitments. He or she often makes mistakes in school or at work, or forgets important details such as appointments and bills and is unable to stay focused on conversations and leisure activities. Additionally, someone with this kind of ADD has trouble keeping his or her emotions in check, and can be easily distracted by people around them.
To be diagnosed with ADD, people over age 7 must have been afflicted by inattention-related symptoms for at minimum six months. Several of the symptoms must be present on two distinct occasions and the patient's difficulties must interfere with the school, social, or work functioning. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers and also medical observation and a thorough background. 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 recognize by family physicians. However, it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common childhood mental disorder, but it's not always recognized when you turn an adult. Family physicians are a great source for diagnosing ADD for adults, especially those who have not been diagnosed or have been dismissed.
Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment often assisted by self-rating scales, interviews and observation of the patient in various situations (eg at work, at home, socially) and a thorough medical history, incorporating the past and current issues, and obtaining feedback from a school or employer. It is important to rule out other reasons for a person's symptoms that could be related to sleep issues, learning disabilities, alcohol and drug use or mood disorders because they 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 doctor is satisfied that there are six or more inattentive criteria for two of the seven subcategories: difficulty focusing, trouble staying on task and disorganization, inability to follow directions or rules, and being 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 able to identify ADD the symptoms must be present for at least 6 months and have impaired functioning in two areas of a person's life. In the majority of people with ADD, the disorder is associated with a variety of comorbid psychological or psychiatric problems, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder and dysthymia) and addictions, anxiety disorders and personality disorders.
adhd adult symptoms of ADD can be reversed, but the best method to treat it is by implementing strategies that help people establish a structure in their lives and change their behaviour. Setting goals, routines for the day and using lists and reminders are beneficial. It is also essential to educate people about their triggers for impulsive behavior and to provide methods for reducing them, including taking time before acting, evaluating a situation and determining alternatives to take. Medication is sometimes necessary but a test of one medication must be administered prior to adding another to make sure it's effective.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD might have trouble working, at the classroom or in their relationships. They tend to make careless mistakes, overlook important details, and are easily distracted. They are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Fortunately, many adults have treatment options to assist them in living more productive lives with ADHD or ADD.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most common mental health disorders, but it is often ignored in family practice. This may be because family physicians aren't familiar with the symptoms that manifest in adults or because people who have ADD/ADHD frequently have comorbid problems, such as mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder, 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 well as clinical observation. The symptoms must be persistently problematic and cause significant impairment in a variety of settings. Children younger than 17 years old need to have at least six signs of inattention in the category and adults need at minimum 5 of the 11 symptoms to meet a diagnosis of inattentive ADD.
Management
It is crucial that family physicians recognize ADD in adults because the issues can be serious. Inattentional ADD in adults is more common than hyperactive impulsive ADHD, but family physicians still don't know how to recognize it. A lot of patients are undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive form of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder) or anxiety addiction disorders. The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients to develop more structure in the lives they lead and improve their self-esteem as well as social skills, and encouraging healthy eating and lifestyles and taking medication if necessary. The use of medication can help up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It is not recommended for children.