Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You might interrupt people while they're talking or sneak into rooms without knocking. If these actions cause conflicts in your life, they may be signs of ADHD.
Adults frequently suffer from comorbid mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders as well as their ADHD. Routine questions asked during the clinical interview may reveal the signs of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
A person with ADD might have trouble coordinating activities, paying attention to specifics or committing to commitments. The person with ADD often makes mistakes in school or at work, forgets important things such as bills and appointments and is unable to stay focused on conversations and leisure activities. Someone with this kind of personality is unable to control their emotions and is easily distracted by other people.
For a person to be diagnosed with ADD they must have been afflicted with inattention at least six months prior to. The symptoms must manifest at least twice and impact the patient's social, educational or work performance. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, as well as clinical observation and a thorough assessment. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined are not as obvious and can be difficult to recognize by family physicians. This is a condition that can be diagnosed by primary care providers.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is one of the most frequent mental health conditions but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians are a good source of information to diagnose ADD in adults, especially those who have not been diagnosed or have been dismissed.
Diagnosis is based upon the clinical assessment of a patient, often supported by self-rating scales, interviews and observation of the patient in different situations (eg at work, at home and socially) as well as a thorough medical history, taking into account past problems and present difficulties 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.
adhd symptoms 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 can be identified when a clinician observes six or more inattentive symptoms within two of the seven subcategories. These include difficulty in staying focused or on task, disorganization or forgetfulness, inability to follow rules or instructions, and difficulty staying organized. 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 six months and have caused impairment in two areas of a person's daily life. A majority of people suffering from ADD have comorbid psychological and mental disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions and bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and personality disorders, addictions and anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADD are reversible, but the best way to treat it is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and implement behavioural changes. Setting goals, establishing routines for the day and using lists and reminding people are all beneficial. It is crucial to teach people how to manage their impulsive behavior and to understand what triggers them. Techniques such as waiting before taking action, or evaluating a situation and working out alternatives are useful. The use of medication is sometimes required, but a test of one drug should be administered prior to adding another one to ensure it's effective.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD often find they struggle at school, work or in their relationships with family and friends. They tend to miss important details, make impulsive mistakes and get distracted easily. They are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction issues. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for those suffering from ADD/ADHD, which can assist them in living more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD, which is among the most frequent mental disorders, is often neglected 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, bipolar affective disorder) and anxiety or substance use disorders.
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 have to be problematic in different settings on a regular basis and result in significant impairment. Children under the age of 17 have to have at least six symptoms that fall into the inattentive category, while adults require at minimum 5 of the 11 inattentive symptoms to qualify as a diagnosis of inattentive ADD.
Management
Family physicians must recognize ADD in adult patients because the problem can be serious. Inattentional ADD is more often acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD however, it is not well-understood by family physicians, and a lot of patients go undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is mistakenly categorized as mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder or addiction disorders). Treatment is based on support and education to help patients establish more structure in their lives, and improving self-esteem and social skills as well as encouraging an active lifestyle and healthy diet and taking medication when needed. As high as 60 percent of ADD sufferers get relief from medication. It is not recommended for children.