Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you find yourself unable to remember the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? You may interrupt people when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. If these behaviors cause conflict in your life, they could be signs of ADHD.
Adults with ADHD typically suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. Clues to ADHD can be identified through routine questions in the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Signs and symptoms
A person with ADD has difficulty paying close attention to the details, arranging activities, or following through on commitments. He or she makes impulsive mistakes at school or work, is unable to remember important details such as bills and appointments 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 others.
To be diagnosed with ADD individuals over the age of 7 must have been afflicted by inattentive symptoms for at minimum six months. The symptoms must appear on two separate occasions and affect the patient's school, social, or work functioning. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, in addition to an examination of the patient's clinical condition 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 evident and are often difficult to recognize by family physicians. However, it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is among the most frequent mental health disorders but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians play a key role in diagnosing ADD and referring adults to treatment, particularly those who have been relegated to mental health services or do not have a diagnosis.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical evaluation, which could include self-ratings, an interview and observation of patients in various situations (e.g. at home, work, or socially) and an extensive medical history that takes into account the past and present challenges and feedback from the employer or school. It is important to rule out other causes for the person's symptoms that could be related to sleep issues as well as learning disabilities, alcohol or drugs or mood disorders, as these may be similar 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 doctor is satisfied that there are six or more inattentive symptoms in two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention or staying focused and disorganization, inability to follow instructions or rules, forgetfulness 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 diagnosed with ADD the symptoms must have been present for at least six months and have caused impairment in two different areas of a person's life. In at least half of all people suffering from ADD it is associated with a variety of comorbid psychological or psychiatric problems that include mood disorders (depression dysthymia, and bipolar affective disorder), addictions, anxiety disorders and personality disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed, but the best method to treat it is applying strategies to help people organize their lives and alter their behavior. Setting goals, routines for the day and making lists and reminders are beneficial. It is also essential to help people understand their triggers for impulsive behavior and to provide methods for reducing them, such as taking time before acting, evaluating a situation and working out different options for action. Sometimes, medication is necessary, but a trial of one medication must be conducted prior to adding another to make sure it's effective.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD often find they have trouble at school, work or in their relationships with family and friends. They are more likely to overlook important details, make impulsive mistakes and get distracted easily. They are also more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse. Fortunately, many adults are able to find treatment options that help them live more productive lives with ADHD or ADD.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most commonly reported mental health conditions, yet it is often not considered in family practices. This could be due to the fact that family physicians are not familiar with the symptoms that manifest in adults, or because those with ADD/ADHD often have multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder dysthymia, bipolar affective disorder) and anxiety, or addiction disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is determined by an evaluation that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, as well as clinical observation, and a thorough history. The symptoms must be persistently problematic and cause significant impairment in a variety of environments. To diagnose inattention ADD, children under 17 years of age must display at least six signs in the category of inattentional behavior. Adults should have at minimum five of the 11 inattentional behaviors.
Management
It is vital that family doctors are aware of ADD in adults because the problems can be quite serious. Inattentive ADD in adults is more common than hyperactive impulsive ADHD however, family physicians still aren't aware of it. signs of adult add of patients are undiagnosed. Frequently, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder), anxiety, or substance use disorders. The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients develop more structure in the lives they lead and improve their self-esteem as well as social skills, and encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits and taking medication, should it be required. The use of medication can help up to 60% of ADD patients. It is not recommended for children.