Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You may interrupt people when they're talking or sneak into rooms without knocking. If these actions cause conflict in your life, they could be symptoms of ADHD.
Adults who suffer from ADHD typically suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. Clues to ADHD can be discovered through routine questions that are asked during the interview.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD might have trouble 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 difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Additionally, someone with this kind of ADD has trouble keeping his or her emotions in check and can be easily distracted by other people.
To be diagnosed with ADD they must have been afflicted with inattention at least six months prior. Several of the symptoms must be present on two distinct occasions and the patient's difficulties are affecting social, school or work functioning. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, in addition to medical observation and a thorough medical history. 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 identify by family physicians. However, it is an illness that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is among the most frequent mental health conditions however, it is not always recognized when you reach adulthood. Family physicians are a great source of information to diagnose ADD for adults, especially those who haven't been diagnosed or dismissed.
The diagnosis is based on a medical evaluation, which could include self-ratings and interviews, as well as observation of patients in various situations (e.g. at home, work or socially), as well as a thorough medical history that includes both current and past difficulties and the feedback from the employer or school. It is essential to rule out other causes for the symptoms of a person, like sleep disorders, learning disabilities or mood disorders.
content 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 criteria in two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty focusing 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.
To be classified as having ADD, symptoms must have been present in at least two aspects of a person's life for at least six months. In at least half of all people suffering from ADD it is associated with comorbid psychological or psychiatric problems, including mood disorders (depression dysthymia and bipolar affective disorder) as well as anxiety disorders, addictions and personality disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed but the best way to manage it is by implementing strategies that help people establish a structure in their lives and alter their habits. Setting goals, routines for the day and making lists and reminders are helpful. It is also crucial to teach people about their own triggers for impulsive behaviour and to provide methods for reducing them, like waiting before acting, evaluating a situation and working out alternatives to take. Sometimes, medication is necessary, but a trial of one medication should be conducted prior to adding another to make sure it is effective.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD typically struggle at school, work or in their relationships with family and friends. They tend to forget important details, make impulsive mistakes and get distracted easily. They are more likely to be suffering from depression, anxiety or addiction issues. Many adults are able to have treatment options to help them live more productive lives with ADHD or ADD.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most common mental health disorders, yet it is often overlooked in family practices. This is likely due to the fact that family doctors are unfamiliar with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in adults or because a lot of people suffering from ADD/ADHD have comorbid disorders, such as mood disorders or anxiety.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADD is dependent on an assessment that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, a clinical observation, and a thorough history. The symptoms have to be problematic in multiple settings on an ongoing basis, and cause significant impairment. Children under age 17 need to show at least six signs of inattention in the category, and adults must have at least 5 of the 11 inattentive symptoms to meet a diagnosis of inattentive ADD.
Management
Family physicians must be aware of ADD in patients of all ages because the issue could be serious. Inattentional ADD in adults is more prevalent than hyperactive impulsive ADHD, but doctors of the family aren't aware of it. Many patients are left undiagnosed. The inattentive version of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder or addiction disorders). Treatment is based on education and support to help patients establish more order in their lives, enhancing self-esteem and social interaction skills and promoting an active lifestyle and healthy diet, and medication if needed. Medication is helpful in up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It is not recommended to use in children because it is not safe for them.