Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you have a tendency to forget the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? Maybe you barge into rooms without knocking, or interrupt people when they're speaking. These actions may be ADHD symptoms when they cause you have conflict in your everyday life.
Adults with ADHD often have comorbid mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. symptoms of adult add to ADHD can be identified through routine questions that are asked during the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD may have difficulty organizing activities, paying attention to particulars or keeping commitments. The person with ADD often makes errors at school or work, and forgets important details such as appointments and bills and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. A person who is this type struggles to control their emotions and can easily be distracted by the activities of others.
To be diagnosed with ADD they must have been afflicted with inattention at least six month prior to. The symptoms should manifest at least twice and interfere with the patient's social, school, or work functioning. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, as well as medical observation and a thorough history. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of this type of ADD aren't always evident and can be difficult for family doctors to recognize. It is a condition which can be diagnosed by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is among the most common childhood mental health disorders but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians are a good source for diagnosing ADD in adults, especially those who haven't been diagnosed or dismissed.
Diagnosis is based on the clinical assessment of a patient, often supported by self-rating scales and interviews and observation of the patient's behavior in various situations (eg at work, at home, socially) and a thorough medical background, including previous issues and current difficulties and getting feedback from school or employer. It is essential to rule out any other possible causes for a person's symptoms that could be related to sleep issues as well as learning disabilities, alcohol or drug use or mood disorders because they may have similar presentations 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 a doctor is satisfied that there are at least six inattentive symptoms within two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty focusing, trouble staying on task and disorganization, inability to follow directions 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 general, to be considered to have ADD the symptoms must have been present for at least 6 months and have caused impairment in two areas of a person's life. At least half of people suffering from ADD have a history of comorbid psychological or psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions, bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and addictions, personality disorders and anxiety disorders.
symptoms of add in adults of ADD are reversible, but the best way to treat it is to implement strategies that aid people to organize their lives and implement behavioural changes. Setting goals, making daily routines and using lists as well as reminding people of their goals are all beneficial. It is also important to help people understand their own triggers for impulsive behavior and provide techniques for controlling them, such as taking time before acting, evaluating a situation and working out different options for action. Sometimes, medication is required however it is important to test one medication before adding another.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD may have difficulties at work, at the classroom or in their relationships. They are more likely to make mistakes, overlook important details and get easily distracted. They are more likely to be suffering from anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. Fortunately, many adults have treatment options to assist them in living more productive lives with ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most common mental health disorders, but it is often overlooked in family practice. This could be due to the fact that family doctors are unfamiliar with symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD or because many people with ADD/ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders, including mood disorders or anxiety.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is based on a thorough evaluation which includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as and clinical observation. The symptoms must be problematic in multiple settings on an ongoing basis and result in significant impairment. To be able to identify inattentive ADD, children under 17 years of age must display at least six symptomatic signs that are indicative of inattentional behavior. Adults should have at least five of the eleven inattentive behaviors.
Management
It is vital that family physicians recognize ADD in adults because the problems can be quite grave. Inattentional ADD in adults is more prevalent than hyperactive impulsive ADHD however, family physicians do not understand it well. Many patients remain undiagnosed. The inattentive kind of ADD is mistakenly identified as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder) or anxiety substance use disorders. The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients to establish more order in their lives, improving their self-esteem and social skills, and encouraging healthy eating and lifestyles and taking medication should it be required. Treatment is beneficial for up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It is not recommended for children.