Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
You forget appointments or tasks? Perhaps you enter rooms without knocking or interrupting others when they're speaking. These behaviors could be ADHD symptoms if they cause you to have conflict in your everyday life.
Adults with ADHD typically suffer from psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and mood disorders. Questions that are routinely asked during a clinical interview can reveal the symptoms of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
A person suffering from ADD might have trouble organizing activities and paying attention to the details or keeping commitments. The person with ADD often makes careless mistakes at school or work, forgets important things such as appointments and bills, and has trouble staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. In addition, a person who suffers from this type of ADD is unable to keep their emotions in check and may be easily distracted by other people.
In order to be diagnosed with ADD those over 7 must have been affected by inattention symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms should manifest on two separate occasions and affect the patient's social, educational or work performance. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, along with clinical observation and a thorough 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 as clear cut and can be difficult for family physicians to identify. This is a condition that can be identified by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common childhood mental disorder however it's often not recognized when you turn an adult. Family physicians are a good source for diagnosing ADD for adults, especially those who have not been diagnosed or discharged.
Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment often assisted by self-rating scales, interview and observation of the patient in different situations (eg at work, at home and socially), a thorough medical background, including past problems and present difficulties and getting feedback from school or the employer. It is important to exclude other reasons for the symptoms a person experiences, such as sleep disorders and learning disabilities as well as 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 the clinician is satisfied that there are at least six inattentive symptoms within two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty paying attention or staying focused, disorganization, failing 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 areas of the person's life for a minimum of six months. In the majority of people with ADD it is associated with a variety of comorbid mental or psychiatric issues such as mood disorders (depression dysthymia and bipolar affective disorder) and anxiety disorders, addictions and personality disorders.
Symptoms of ADD are reversible. However, the best treatment is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and make behavioral changes. Setting goals, routines for the day and making lists and reminders are beneficial. It is essential to teach people to control their impulsive behavior as well as what causes them. Techniques such as waiting before acting or evaluating a scenario and coming up with alternatives are useful. Sometimes, medication is necessary however it is essential to test one medication prior to adding another.
Full Document with inattentive ADD typically have trouble at work, school or in their personal relationships. They tend to forget important details, make careless mistakes and get distracted easily. They are also more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse. Many adults are able to are able to find treatment options that assist them in living more productive lives with ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most common mental disorders, is often ignored by family doctors. This may be because family physicians are not familiar with the symptoms that manifest for adults or because those who have ADD/ADHD frequently have comorbid problems, such as mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder dysthymia) and anxiety, or substance use disorders.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADD can be made by a thorough assessment which includes feedback from teachers and other professionals as well as clinical observation. The symptoms have to be problematic in different settings on a regular basis, and cause significant impairment. To be able to identify inattention ADD children younger than 17 years old must have at least six symptomatic signs that are indicative of inattentional behavior. Adults should have at least five of the 11 inattentive behaviors.
Management
Family physicians need to recognize ADD in patients of all ages because the issue could be serious. Inattentional ADD in adults is more common than hyperactive impulsive ADHD however, family physicians still don't know how to recognize it. Many patients are left undiagnosed. Often, the inattentive form of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder, or substance abuse disorders). The treatment is based on education and support, helping patients to establish more structure in the lives they lead, improving their self-esteem and social skills, and encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits, and medication, when needed. Treatment is beneficial for up to 60% of ADD patients. It is not recommended to use in children as it is not safe for them.