Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you find yourself unable to remember the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? Maybe adult female add symptoms barge into rooms without knocking or interrupting others when they speak. If these behaviors cause conflict in your life, they could be symptoms of ADHD.
Adults frequently suffer from comorbid disorders of the psyche, including anxiety and mood disorders as well as their ADHD. Questions that are routinely asked during a clinical interview may reveal the signs of ADHD.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD might have trouble organizing activities and paying attention to the particulars or keeping commitments. They often make mistakes in school or at work, and forgets important details such as bills and appointments and is unable to stay focused on conversations and leisure activities. In addition, a person who suffers from this type of ADD has trouble keeping his or her emotions in check and may be easily distracted by other people.
To be diagnosed with ADD individuals over the age of 7 must have been afflicted by inattention-related symptoms for at minimum six months. The symptoms must appear at least twice and impact the patient's social, educational or work performance. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers and also medical observation and a thorough background. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined aren't as obvious and can be difficult to identify by family doctors. However it is a condition that is diagnosed and treated by primary care providers.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common childhood mental disorder however, it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians be a crucial factor in identifying ADD and sending adults to treatment, particularly those who have been discharged from mental health care or do not have a diagnosis at all.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical evaluation, which could include self-ratings, interviews and observation of patients in various situations (e.g. at work, at home, or socially), as well as an extensive medical history that considers both past and current difficulties and feedback from the school or employer. It is important to rule out other reasons for the person's symptoms like sleep issues as well as learning disabilities, alcohol or drugs or mood disorders since they could 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 can be identified when a doctor observes six or more symptoms of inattention within two of the seven subcategories. These include: difficulties in paying attention or staying on track, disorganization or forgetfulness, failure to follow the rules or instructions, or difficulty 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.
In general, to be able to identify ADD, the symptoms must be present for at least 6 months and have caused impairment in two different areas of one's life. In the majority of people suffering from ADD the disorder is associated with comorbid mental or psychiatric disorders that include mood disorders (depression, dysthymia, and bipolar affective disorder) as well as addictions, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
Symptoms of ADD are reversible, however the best approach is to implement strategies that help people to organize their lives and implement behavioural changes. Goal setting, daily routines and using lists and reminders can be helpful. It is also important to help people understand their own triggers for impulsive behavior and provide techniques for controlling them, including waiting before acting, evaluating a situation and coming up with different options for action. Sometimes medication is necessary, but it's important to test one medication before adding another.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD may have difficulties at work, at school or in their relationships. They tend to make careless errors, miss important details and get easily distracted. They are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or abuse. There are a variety of treatment options for adults with ADD/ADHD that can assist them in living more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD, which is among the most frequent mental disorders, is often neglected by family physicians. This could be due to the fact that family physicians are not familiar with the symptom presentation for adults or because those who suffer from ADD/ADHD are often suffering from comorbid problems, such as mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder dysthymia, bipolar affective disorder) and anxiety or alcohol-related disorders.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADD is based on an evaluation that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, as well as clinical observation and a detailed background. The symptoms must be consistently challenging and cause significant impairment in a variety of situations. In order to diagnose inattentive ADD, children under 17 years of age must display at least six symptomatic signs in the category of inattentive behavior. Adults must have at least five of the eleven inattention-related behaviors.
Management
Family physicians must recognize ADD in adult patients because the issue could be serious. Inattentive ADD is more often acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD but it is still not widely understood by family physicians, and a lot of patients go undiagnosed. Frequently, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder) or anxiety, or addiction disorders. The treatment is based on education and support, helping patients to develop more structure in the lives they lead and improve their self-esteem as well as social skills, and encouraging healthy eating and lifestyles and taking medication if necessary. About 60 percent of ADD sufferers get relief from medication. It is not recommended for children.