Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You might be a nuisance in rooms without knocking or interrupt others when they're speaking. If these actions cause conflicts in your life, they may be signs of ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD often have comorbid mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders. The signs of ADHD can be identified through routine questions that are asked during the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD is unable to pay close attention to details, organizing activities, or executing on commitments. He or she makes careless errors at school or at work, and forgets important things like appointments and bills, and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Furthermore, a person with this type of ADD is unable to keep his or her emotions in check and may be easily distracted by other people.
To be diagnosed with ADD those over 7 must be afflicted by inattention symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms must manifest at least twice and impact the patient's school, social, or work functioning. Parents and teachers must provide feedback, along with 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 the combined type of ADD aren't always clear cut and can be difficult for family physicians to identify. However it is an illness that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is one of the most frequent mental health conditions but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians are an excellent source to diagnose ADD in adults, particularly those who haven't been diagnosed or dismissed.
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 work, home or socially) as well as a detailed medical history that includes the past and present challenges and feedback from the employer or school. It is important to rule out any other possible causes for the person's symptoms, such as sleep problems or learning disabilities, alcohol or mood disorders or drug use 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 at least six indicators of inattention within two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention and difficulty staying focused, disorganization, failing 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 order to be diagnosed as having ADD symptoms must have been evident in at least two aspects of a person's life for a minimum of six months. At adhd in adults symptoms of people with ADD have comorbid psychological and psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions and bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) as well as personality disorders, addictions, and anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADD are reversible. However, the best approach is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and make behavioral changes. Setting goals, creating daily routines and using lists as well as reminding people of their goals are all beneficial. It is also essential to help people understand their own triggers for impulsive behaviour and offer strategies for controlling them, like waiting before making a decision, evaluating a situation and working out alternatives to take. Medication is sometimes necessary but a test of one medication must be administered prior to adding another one to ensure it's effective.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD often find they have trouble at work, school or in their personal relationships. They are more likely to make errors, miss crucial details and become easily distracted. They are also more likely to be suffering from anxiety, depression or substance abuse. There are a variety of treatment options available to adults with ADD/ADHD that can help them lead more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is among the most common mental health disorders, but it is often not considered in family practices. This is likely due to the fact that family physicians aren't familiar with the symptoms that manifest for adults or because those who suffer from ADD/ADHD are often suffering from multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder dysthymia) and anxiety, or alcohol-related disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is determined by an evaluation that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, a clinical observation, and a thorough background. The symptoms must be problematic in different settings on a regular basis and result in significant impairment. To diagnose inattention ADD, children under 17 years of age must display at least six symptoms in the category of inattentional behavior. Adults need at minimum five of the 11 inattentional behaviors.
Management
Family physicians need to recognize ADD in adult patients because the issue could be serious. Inattentional ADD is more frequently recognized in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive type of ADHD but it is still not well understood by family doctors and many patients go undiagnosed. Frequently, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder), anxiety, or addiction disorders. Treatment is focused on education and support, helping patients develop more discipline in their lives, and improving self-esteem and social interaction skills as well as encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle and, if necessary, medication. As high as 60 percent of ADD sufferers can benefit from treatment. It is not recommended to use in children as it is not safe for them.