Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you have a tendency to forget the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? You may interrupt others when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. If these behaviors cause conflict in your life, they may be symptoms of ADHD.
Adults frequently suffer from comorbid disorders of the psyche, including mood and anxiety disorders with their ADHD. Routine questions asked during the clinical interview can reveal signs of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
A person with ADD may have difficulty organizing activities paying attention to specifics or committing to commitments. He or she often makes errors at school or work, or forgets important details such as appointments and bills, and has trouble staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Furthermore, a person who suffers from this type of ADD struggles to keep their emotions in check, and may be easily distracted by other people.
In adult adhd symptoms to be diagnosed with ADD, people over age 7 must be afflicted by inattention symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms must appear on two separate occasions and interfere with the patient's social, school or work performance. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers and also clinical observation and a careful medical 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 distinct and may be difficult for family physicians to recognize. However it is an illness that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
ADD is a typical mental disorder in children however, it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians are an excellent source of information for diagnosing ADD in adults, especially those who have not been diagnosed or have been dismissed.
Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment often assisted by self-rating scales, interview and observation of the patient in various situations (eg at work, at home or socially) as well as complete medical history, taking into account the past and current issues and obtaining feedback from the school or the employer. It is important to exclude other causes for a person's symptoms such as sleep disorders, learning disabilities or 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 inattentive symptoms for two of the seven subcategories: difficulty paying attention or staying focused or in a state of disorganization, failure 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.
To be recognized as having ADD symptoms must be present in at least two aspects of the person's life for a minimum of six months. A majority of people with ADD have comorbid psychological and mental disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions bipolar affective disorder and dysthymia) and addictions, personality disorders and anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed but the best way to treat it is by applying strategies to help people organize their lives and change their behaviour. Setting goals, creating daily routines and using lists and reminding people of their goals are all beneficial. It is also important to help people understand their own triggers for impulsive behaviour and to provide methods for reducing them, like taking time before taking action, evaluating the situation and working out alternative courses of action. Sometimes medication is necessary, but it's important to test one medication prior to adding another.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD can have difficulty working, at school, or in their relationships. They are more likely to overlook important details, make careless mistakes and become easily distracted. They are also more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse. There are many adults who have treatment options to aid them in living more productive lives with ADHD or ADD.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most prevalent mental disorders, is frequently overlooked by family physicians. This may be because family physicians are not familiar with the symptom manifestations in adults or because people with ADD/ADHD often have multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, dysthymia) and anxiety or addiction disorders.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADD can be derived based on a thorough evaluation, which includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as and clinical observation. The symptoms must be consistently challenging and cause significant impairment in multiple settings. In order to diagnose inattention ADD children who are under 17 years of age must display at least six signs in the category of inattentional behavior. Adults need at least five of the 11 inattentional behaviors.
Management
Family physicians need to recognize ADD in patients who are adults because the problem can be serious. Inattentive ADD is more frequently recognized in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD but it is not well understood by family physicians, and a lot of patients go undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive form of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder) or anxiety substance use disorders. Treatment is based on education and support to help patients establish more structure in their lives, enhancing self-esteem and social interaction skills, encouraging an active lifestyle and healthy diet, and medication if needed. Treatment is beneficial for up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It should not be used for children since it is not safe for them.