Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
You forget appointments or tasks? You may interrupt people when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. If these actions cause conflict in your life, they could be symptoms of ADHD.
Adults who suffer from ADHD often have comorbid mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. Routine questions asked during the clinical interview can reveal signs of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
A person with ADD has difficulty paying close focus on details, organising tasks, or executing on commitments. The person with ADD often makes careless mistakes at school or work, and forgets important details such as bills and appointments and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Someone with this kind of personality has difficulty controlling their emotions and is easily distracted by others.
For a person to be diagnosed with ADD they must have had inattention symptoms at least six months prior. A number of symptoms have to be present on two separate occasions and the patient's issues are affecting social, school or work-related functioning. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers in addition to medical observation and a thorough background. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of the combined type of ADD are not as clear cut and can be difficult for family physicians to recognize. This is a condition that can be identified by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
ADD is a common childhood mental disorder, but it's not always recognized when you turn an adult. Family physicians can be a crucial factor in diagnosing ADD and referring adults to treatment, specifically those who have been discharged from mental health services or do not have a diagnosis.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical assessment, which can include self-ratings, an interview and observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at home, work or socially) as well as an extensive medical history that takes into account both past and current difficulties and the feedback from the school or employer. It is crucial to rule out other causes of a person's symptoms like 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. Inattentional ADD can be identified when a doctor observes six or more inattentive symptoms in two of seven subcategories. These include: difficulty in staying focused or focused, disorganization, forgetfulness, failure to follow rules or instructions, and 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 considered to have ADD, the symptoms must have been present for at minimum 6 months and be affecting functioning in two different areas of a person's daily life. In the majority of people with ADD, the disorder is accompanied by a comorbid mental or psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders (depression, dysthymia and bipolar affective disorder) as well as addictions, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
The signs of ADD are reversible, but the best approach is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and make behavioral changes. Goal setting, daily routines and using lists and reminders are useful. It is essential to teach people how to manage their impulsive behavior and to understand what triggers them. Techniques like waiting before taking action, or evaluating a situation and working out alternatives are beneficial. Sometimes, medication is necessary however it is important to test one medication prior to adding another.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD often find they have trouble at school, at work or in their relationships with family and friends. They tend to miss important details, make impulsive mistakes and get distracted easily. They are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to adults with ADD/ADHD that can aid them in leading more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions, yet it is often not considered in family practice. This could be due to the fact that family physicians are not familiar with the symptom manifestations in adults or because people with ADD/ADHD often have multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, dysthymia) and anxiety or substance use disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is through a thorough evaluation, which includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as and clinical observation. The symptoms have to be persistently problematic and cause significant impairment in a variety of settings. In order to diagnose inattentive ADD children who are under 17 years old must have at least six signs that are indicative of inattentive behavior. Adults should have at least five of the eleven inattention-related behaviors.
Management
Family physicians need to recognize ADD in patients who are adults because the issue could be serious. signs and symptoms of adhd in women is more frequently acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive type of ADHD but it is not well understood by family physicians, and a lot of patients go undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is mistakenly categorized as mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder, or substance abuse disorders). Treatment is based on education and support and helps patients create more order in their lives, enhancing self-esteem and social interactions and promoting an active lifestyle and healthy diet and taking medication when needed. Medication is helpful in up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It should not be used in children because it is not safe for them.