Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
You forget appointments or tasks? Perhaps you enter rooms without knocking or interrupting others when they are speaking. If these actions cause conflict in your life, they may be signs of ADHD.
Adults often experience comorbid disorders of the psyche, including mood and anxiety disorders with their ADHD. The signs of ADHD can be elicited by routine questions in the clinical interview.
Signs and symptoms
A person with ADD has difficulty paying close focus on details, organising activities, or following through on commitments. He or she often makes mistakes in school or at work, and forgets important details such as bills and appointments and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. In addition, a person with this type of ADD has trouble keeping his or her emotions in check, and is easily distracted by others.
In order to be diagnosed with ADD, people over age 7 must have been affected by inattention-related symptoms for at minimum six months. Several of the symptoms must be present on two separate occasions and the patient's issues must interfere with school, social or work-related 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 this type of ADD aren't always clear cut and can be difficult for family doctors to recognize. However, it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care providers.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common childhood mental disorder however, it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians can be a crucial factor in identifying ADD and referring adults to treatment, specifically those who have been dismissed from mental health services or do not have a diagnosis at all.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical assessment, which can include self-ratings, interviews and observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at work, at home or socially) as well as an extensive medical history that includes both current and past difficulties as well as feedback from the employer or school. It is crucial to rule out other reasons for a person's symptoms like sleep issues as well as learning disabilities, alcohol and drugs or mood disorders because they may have similar symptoms 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 clinician is satisfied that there are six or more indicators of inattention for two of the seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention and difficulty staying focused and disorganization, inability to follow directions or rules, apathy 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 minimum 6 months and have impaired functioning in two areas of a person's life. About half of those who suffer from ADD suffer from comorbid psychological and psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions bipolar affective disorder and dysthymia), personality disorders, addictions and anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADD are reversible, however the best approach is to implement strategies that aid people to organize their lives and implement behavioural changes. Setting goals, routines for the day and making lists and reminders are beneficial. It is important to teach people to manage their impulsive behavior and what causes them. Techniques like waiting before making a decision or evaluating the situation and figuring out alternative options are useful. Sometimes medication is necessary however it is important to test a medication prior to adding another.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD often have trouble at work, school or in their relationships with family and friends. They are more likely to overlook important details, make careless mistakes and get distracted easily. They are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or addiction to drugs. There are many treatment options available to people with ADD/ADHD to help them lead more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is among the most common mental health disorders, but it is often ignored in family practice. This may be because family physicians are unfamiliar with the symptom presentation in adults, or because those who suffer from ADD/ADHD are often suffering from comorbid problems, such as mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, dysthymia) and anxiety or addiction disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD can be made through a thorough evaluation that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as well as clinical observation. The symptoms must be problematic in different settings on a regular basis and cause significant impairment. To diagnose inattention ADD children who are 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 11 inattentional behaviors.
Management
It is vital that family doctors are aware of ADD in adults, as the problems can be quite serious. Inattentive ADD in adults is more prevalent than hyperactive impulsive ADHD, but family physicians still aren't aware of it. Many patients are left undiagnosed. Frequently, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder) or anxiety, or addiction disorders. The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients to develop more order in the lives they lead by enhancing their self-esteem and social skills, encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits and taking medication when needed. Up to 60 percent of ADD sufferers benefit from treatment. adult signs of adhd is not recommended for children.