Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you find yourself forgetting the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? You might interrupt people while they are talking or slam into rooms without knocking. These actions may be ADHD symptoms when they cause you to be in conflict with your everyday life.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. The signs of ADHD can be identified through routine questions during the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Signs and symptoms
A person suffering from ADD isn't able to pay focus on details, organising activities, or following through on commitments. He or she makes impulsive mistakes at school or work, and forgets important things such as bills and appointments and has trouble staying focused on conversation and leisure activities. A person with this type is unable to control their emotions and is easily distracted by others.
To be diagnosed with ADD they must have had inattention symptoms for at least six months prior to. The symptoms should manifest at least twice and interfere with the patient's social, school, or work functioning. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers in addition to clinical observation and a careful medical history. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined aren't as apparent and may be difficult to diagnose by family physicians. However it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common childhood mental disorder however, it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians play a key role in identifying ADD and referring adults to treatment, specifically those who have been relegated to mental health services or do not have a diagnosis.
Diagnosis is based upon clinical assessment, which is often aided by self-rating scales, interview and observation of the patient in various situations (eg at home, at work and socially) as well as a thorough medical background, including the past and current issues and getting feedback from a school or employer. It is essential to rule out other causes for the symptoms of a person like sleep issues, learning disabilities, alcohol and mood disorders or drug use, as these 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. Inattentional ADD can be identified when the clinician finds six or more inattentive symptoms within two of the seven subcategories. These include difficulty paying attention or staying focused, disorganization, forgetfulness, failure to adhere to the rules or instructions, or trouble 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.
Generally, in order to be able to identify ADD, the symptoms must be present for at least six months and have impaired functioning in two different areas of one's life. About half of those suffering from ADD have comorbid psychological and psychiatric disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions, bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and personality disorders, addictions, and anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of ADD are reversible, but the best way to treat it is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and implement behavioural changes. Goal setting, daily routines and using lists and reminders are beneficial. It is also important to educate people about their triggers for impulsive behaviour and provide techniques for controlling them, like taking time before acting, evaluating a situation and coming up with alternative courses of action. Sometimes, medication is required however it is important to test one medication before adding another.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD may have difficulties at work, in school, or in their relationships. They tend to make careless mistakes, forget important details and get easily distracted. They are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction issues. There are many adults who find treatment options that can assist them in living more successful lives with ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most common mental disorders, is frequently overlooked by family physicians. This could be due to the fact that family physicians aren't familiar with symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD or because a lot of people suffering from ADD/ADHD also suffer from other disorders, like anxiety or mood disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD can be made based on a thorough evaluation that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as in addition to clinical observations. The symptoms must be problematic in multiple settings on an ongoing basis and result in significant impairment. In adhd in adults signs to diagnose inattention ADD, children under 17 years old must show at least six 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 patients who are adults because the issue could be serious. Inattentional ADD in adults is more prevalent than hyperactive impulsive ADHD, but family physicians don't know how to recognize it. A lot of patients are undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, or addiction disorders). Treatment is based on education and support and helps patients create more discipline in their lives, improving self-esteem and social skills, encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle, and medication if needed. The use of medication can help up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It is not recommended to use in children because it is not safe for them.