Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you have a tendency to forget the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? look here may interrupt people when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. These behaviors could be ADHD symptoms when they cause you encounter conflict in your daily life.
Adults often experience comorbid psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders that are associated with their ADHD. Clues to ADHD can be discovered through routine questions that are asked during the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Signs and symptoms
A person with ADD might have trouble coordinating activities, paying attention to specifics or committing to commitments. He or she makes careless mistakes at school or at work, and forgets important things like appointments and bills and is unable to stay focused on conversation and leisure activities. Additionally, someone who suffers from this type of ADD struggles to keep their emotions in check and can be easily distracted by other people.
To be diagnosed with ADD individuals over the age of 7 must be afflicted by inattention symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms must appear on two separate occasions and impact the patient's school, social, or work functioning. Teachers and parents 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 ADD combined are not as obvious and can be difficult to recognize by family physicians. However it is an illness that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care providers.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is among the most frequent mental health conditions, it's not always recognized until later in life. Family physicians are a great resource to diagnose ADD in adults, especially those who have not been diagnosed or dismissed.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical assessment, which can include self-ratings and interviews, as well as observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at work, at home, or socially), as well as an extensive medical history that includes both current and past difficulties and feedback from the employer or school. It is important to rule out other causes for the symptoms of a person, such as sleep problems, learning disabilities, alcohol and drugs or mood disorders since they could have similar presentations 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 within two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention and difficulty staying focused or in a state of disorganization, failure to follow instructions 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 be present in at least two aspects of a person's life for at least six months. About half of those who suffer from ADD suffer from comorbid psychological and psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions and bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and personality disorders, addictions, and anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADD are reversible, but the best treatment is to implement strategies that help people put structure in their lives and make behavioral changes. Setting goals, establishing routines for the day and using lists and reminding people are all helpful. It is crucial to teach people how to manage their impulsive behavior and what triggers them. Techniques like waiting before making a decision or evaluating the situation and working out alternatives are beneficial. Medication is sometimes necessary but a trial of one medication must be conducted prior to adding another to ensure that it's effective.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD can have difficulty working, at the classroom or in their relationships. They are more likely to make mistakes, forget crucial details and become easily distracted. They are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction to drugs. There are a variety of treatment options for adults with ADD/ADHD that can help them lead more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is among the most prevalent mental health disorders, yet it is often not considered in family practice. This is likely due to the fact that family physicians aren't familiar with the symptom manifestations for adults or because those who have ADD/ADHD frequently have multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder, dysthymia) and anxiety or alcohol-related disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD can be made through a thorough evaluation that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals as in addition to clinical observations. The symptoms must be problematic in different settings on a regular basis and cause significant impairment. To diagnose inattentive ADD, children under 17 years old must have at least six signs in the category of inattentive behavior. Adults need at minimum five of the 11 inattention-related behaviors.
Management
It is crucial that family physicians recognize ADD in adults as the problems can be quite serious. Inattentive ADD in adults is more common than hyperactive impulsive ADHD, but doctors of the family do not understand it well. A lot of patients are undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed with mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder or addiction disorders). Treatment is based on support and education and helps patients create more structure in their lives, and improving self-esteem and social skills as well as encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle and, if necessary, medication. Up to 60 percent of ADD sufferers can benefit from medication. It is not recommended to use in children because it is not safe for children.