Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
You forget appointments or tasks? You may interrupt others when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. These behaviors could be ADHD symptoms if they cause you to encounter conflict in your everyday life.
Adults with ADHD often have comorbid mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. Signs of ADHD can be discovered through routine questions that are asked during the clinical interview.
Symptoms
A person with ADD might have trouble organizing activities and paying attention to the details or keeping commitments. The person with ADD often makes errors at school or work, or forgets important details like bills and appointments and is unable to stay focused on conversations and leisure activities. Furthermore, a person with this kind of ADD is unable to keep their emotions in check and may be easily distracted by others.
For a person to be diagnosed with ADD they must have been afflicted with inattention at least six months prior to. The symptoms must appear at least twice and affect the patient's social, educational, or work functioning. A diagnosis of ADD requires feedback from parents and teachers, as well as an examination of the patient's clinical condition 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 aren't always evident and are often difficult to diagnose by family doctors. However, it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians are a good source of information for diagnosing ADD in adults, particularly those who have not been diagnosed or have been discharged.
The diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical assessment, which may include self-ratings, an interview and observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at work, home or socially) and a thorough medical history that takes into account both current and past difficulties and feedback from the school or employer. It is important to rule out other causes for a person's symptoms like sleep issues or learning disabilities, alcohol and mood disorders or drug use because they 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 the doctor is satisfied that there are six or more inattentive criteria within two of the following seven subcategories: difficulty focusing, trouble staying on task and disorganization, inability to follow directions 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 able to identify ADD, the symptoms must be present for at minimum 6 months and have caused impairment in two different areas of a person's daily life. A majority of people who suffer from ADD have a history of comorbid psychological or mental disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions and bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) as well as addictions, personality disorders and anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed, however the best way to treat it is applying strategies to help people organize their lives and change their behaviour. Setting goals, creating daily routines and using lists as well as reminding people of their goals are all beneficial. It is also crucial to teach people about their own triggers for impulsive behavior and provide techniques for controlling them, like waiting before acting, evaluating a situation and determining different options for action. Medication is sometimes necessary but a trial of one medication should be given before adding another to ensure that it is effective.
Treatment
Adults with inattentive ADD often struggle at work, school or in their relationships with family and friends. They tend to miss important details, make careless mistakes, and are easily distracted. Main Page are also more likely to experience anxiety, depression or substance abuse. There are many treatment options available to those suffering from ADD/ADHD, which can aid them in leading more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most common mental disorders, is frequently overlooked by family physicians. This is likely due to the fact that family physicians aren't familiar with adult ADD/ADHD symptoms or because many people with ADD/ADHD also suffer from other disorders, including anxiety or mood disorders.
A diagnosis of inattentive 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 a problem in different settings on a regular basis, and cause significant impairment. To diagnose inattention ADD, children under 17 years of age must display at least six symptoms in the category of inattentional behavior. Adults need at least five of the eleven inattentional behaviors.
Management
It is vital that family doctors recognize ADD in adults because the symptoms can be grave. Inattentional ADD in adults is more prevalent than hyperactive impulsive ADHD however, family physicians don't know how to recognize it. Many patients are left undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed with mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder or substance abuse disorders). The treatment is based on education and support, helping patients develop more order in their lives, improving their self-esteem and social skills, and encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits and taking medication, if necessary. Treatment is beneficial for up to 60% of ADD patients. It is not recommended to use for children since it is not safe for them.