Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
You don't remember appointments or tasks? You may interrupt people when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. These actions may be ADHD symptoms if they cause you to encounter conflict in your daily life.
Adults often experience comorbid mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders that are associated with their ADHD. The routine questions that are asked during the clinical interview may reveal the signs of ADHD.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD may have difficulty organizing activities paying attention to specifics or committing to commitments. The person with ADD often makes mistakes in school or at work, forgets important things like appointments and bills and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. A person who is this type struggles to control their emotions and can easily be distracted by others.
In order to be diagnosed with ADD those over 7 must have been afflicted by inattentive symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms should manifest on two separate occasions and interfere with the patient's social, school or work-related performance. Parents and teachers must provide feedback, as well as 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 aren't always evident and are often difficult to diagnose by family physicians. However, it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common mental disorder in children however, it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians are a great source to diagnose ADD in adults, particularly those who have not been diagnosed or discharged.
The diagnosis is based on a medical assessment, which can include self-ratings and interviews, as well as observation of patients in various situations (e.g. at work, at home or socially) as well as an extensive medical history that considers the past and present challenges and feedback from the school or employer. It is crucial to rule out other causes of the symptoms of a person, such as sleep disorders or 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 finds six or more inattentive symptoms within two of the seven subcategories. These include difficulties in paying attention or staying on track, disorganization or forgetfulness, inability to follow the rules or instructions, or difficulties in staying organized. 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 different areas of the person's life for a minimum of six months. A majority of people suffering from ADD have a history of comorbid psychological or psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions, bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and addictions, personality disorders and anxiety disorders.
The signs of ADD are reversible, but the best treatment is to implement strategies that help people put structure in their lives and make behavioural changes. Setting goals, creating daily routines and using lists as well as reminding people are all beneficial. It is crucial to help people learn to control their impulsive behavior and to understand what triggers them. Techniques like waiting before acting or evaluating a scenario and working out alternatives are beneficial. Sometimes, medication is necessary, but a test of one medication must be given before adding another to ensure that it is effective.
i thought about this with inattentive ADD often struggle at school, at work or in their relationships with family and friends. They tend to make impulsive errors, miss important details and get easily distracted. They are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or abuse. There are many adults who are able to find treatment options that assist them in living more productive lives with ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most common mental health conditions, yet it is often not considered in family practice. This could be because doctors in the family are not familiar with symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD or because a large number of people with ADD/ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders, including mood disorders or anxiety.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADD can be made through a thorough evaluation, which includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as and clinical observation. The symptoms must be persistently challenging and cause significant impairment in multiple situations. Children younger than 17 years old need to have at minimum 6 symptoms in the inattentive category and adults need at minimum 5 of the 11 symptoms to meet a diagnosis of inattentive ADD.
Management
It is very important that family physicians recognize ADD in adults because the symptoms can be serious. Inattentive ADD is more commonly recognized in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD but it is still not well-understood by family doctors and many patients go undiagnosed. Often, the inattentive form of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorders or substance abuse disorders). The treatment is based on education and support, helping patients to develop more structure in the lives they lead by enhancing their self-esteem and social skills, promoting healthy eating and lifestyles and taking medication, should it be required. Up to 60 percent of ADD sufferers can benefit from medication. It is not recommended for children.