Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You may interrupt others when they're talking or sneak into rooms without knocking. If these actions cause conflicts in your life, they could be signs of ADHD.
Adults who suffer from ADHD frequently suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. The signs of ADHD can be discovered through routine questions during the clinical interview.
Signs and symptoms
A person suffering from ADD might have trouble organizing activities, paying attention to details or keeping commitments. He or she makes impulsive mistakes at school or at work, and forgets important things such as bills and appointments and has trouble staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Additionally, someone with this type of ADD struggles to keep his or her emotions in check and may be easily distracted by others.
For a person to be diagnosed with ADD they must have experienced inattentive symptoms at least six month prior. A number of symptoms have to be present on two distinct occasions, and the patient's problems must interfere with the school, social, or work functioning. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers, as well as medical observation and a thorough medical history. signs and symptoms of adhd in women have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined are not as apparent and may be difficult to diagnose by family physicians. However it is a condition that is diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is among the most frequent mental health disorders however, it is not always recognized in adulthood. Family physicians can be a crucial factor in diagnosing ADD and refer adults to treatment, especially those who have been dismissed from mental health services or do not have a diagnosis at all.
Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment often assisted by self-rating scales, interview and observation of the patient in various situations (eg at home, at work or socially) as well as complete medical history, incorporating previous issues and current difficulties and obtaining feedback from a school or the employer. It is important to rule out other reasons for the symptoms of a person that could be related to sleep issues as well as learning disabilities, alcohol and mood disorders or drug use, as these may 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 a doctor is satisfied that there are at least six inattentive criteria for two of the seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention or staying focused, disorganization, failing 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.
Generally, in order to be diagnosed with ADD, the symptoms must be present for at minimum 6 months and have caused impairment in two areas of a person's life. In at signs of attention deficit disorder in adults of all people suffering from ADD the disorder is associated with comorbid psychological or psychiatric problems that include mood disorders (depression, dysthymia, and bipolar affective disorder), addictions, anxiety disorders and personality disorders.
The signs of ADD are reversible, however the best way to treat it is to implement strategies that help people to organize their lives and implement behavioural changes. Setting goals, routines for the day and making lists and reminders are beneficial. It is also crucial to educate people about their own triggers for impulsive behaviour and provide techniques for controlling them, like waiting before making a decision, evaluating a situation and coming up with different options for action. Sometimes, medication is necessary however it is important to test a medication prior to adding another.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD often struggle at work, school or in their personal relationships. They tend to miss important details, make careless mistakes and get distracted easily. They are also more likely to be suffering from anxiety, depression or substance abuse. There are many treatment options available to people with ADD/ADHD to help them lead more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders, yet it is often overlooked in family practice. This is likely due to the fact that family doctors are unfamiliar with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in adults or because a lot of people suffering from ADD/ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders, including mood disorders or anxiety.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is determined by an evaluation that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, as well as clinical observation, and a thorough history. The symptoms must be persistently problematic and cause significant impairment in multiple settings. Children under the age of 17 have to have at least six symptoms that fall into the inattentive category and adults need at least 5 of the 11 symptoms to be diagnosed of inattentive ADD.
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 family physicians do not understand it well. Many patients remain undiagnosed. The inattentive kind of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder), anxiety, or substance use disorders. Treatment is focused on education and support and helps patients create more discipline in their lives, enhancing self-esteem and social interaction skills and promoting an active lifestyle and healthy diet and, if necessary, medication. Medication is helpful in up to 60% of ADD patients. It is not recommended to use for children since it is not safe for them.