Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You might interrupt people while they are talking or slam into rooms without knocking. If these behaviors cause conflict in your life, they could be signs of ADHD.
Adults suffering from ADHD often have comorbid psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and mood disorders. The signs of ADHD can be identified through routine questions during the clinical interview.
Symptoms
A person with ADD is unable to pay close focus on details, organising tasks, or executing on commitments. He or she makes impulsive mistakes at school or at work, and forgets important things such as bills and appointments, and has difficulty staying focused on conversation and leisure activities. In addition, a person who suffers from this type of ADD struggles to keep his or her emotions in check, and can be easily distracted by others.
For a person to be diagnosed with ADD they must have experienced inattentive symptoms at least six month prior to. The symptoms should manifest at least twice and affect the patient's social, school, or work functioning. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, as well as 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 the combined type of ADD aren't always clear cut and can be difficult for family physicians to identify. However, it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
ADD is a typical mental disorder in children, but it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians can play a key role in identifying ADD and referring adults to treatment, specifically those who have been dismissed from mental health services or do not have a diagnosis at all.
The diagnosis is based on a medical evaluation, which could include self-ratings, an interview and observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at work, at home or socially) and a thorough medical history that includes both past and current difficulties and the feedback from the employer or school. It is crucial to rule out other causes of the symptoms a person experiences, such as sleep disorders, learning disabilities or 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. Inattentive ADD is diagnosed when the doctor is satisfied that there are six or more inattentive symptoms for two of the seven subcategories: difficulty in paying attention, trouble staying on task or in a state of disorganization, failure to follow directions or rules, 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 impaired functioning in two different areas of a person's daily life. In the majority of people suffering from ADD the disorder is associated with a variety of comorbid mental or psychiatric issues that include mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder and dysthymia) and anxiety disorders, addictions and personality disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed, but the best method to treat it is by applying strategies to help people create structure in their life and alter their behavior. Setting goals, routines for the day and using lists and reminders are beneficial. It is also essential to teach people about their triggers for impulsive behaviour and to provide methods for reducing them, such as taking time before acting, evaluating a situation and determining alternatives to take. Medication is sometimes necessary but a test of one drug should be conducted prior to adding another to ensure that it is effective.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD typically have trouble at work, school or in their personal relationships. adhd symptoms adults are more likely to overlook important details, make careless mistakes and get distracted easily. They are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction issues. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for people with ADD/ADHD to aid them in leading more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most commonly reported 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 in adults or because people who have ADD/ADHD frequently have co-occurring disorders, like mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, depression, dysthymia) and anxiety, or addiction disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD can be derived based on a thorough evaluation that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals as in addition to clinical observations. The symptoms have to be persistently problematic and cause significant impairment in a variety of environments. Children under the age of 17 have to show at least 6 symptoms in the inattentive category, and adults must have at least 5 of the 11 inattentive symptoms to be diagnosed of inattentive ADD.
Management
Family physicians must recognize ADD in adult patients since the condition can be serious. Inattentional ADD is more frequently acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD but it is not well-understood by family doctors and many patients go undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is misdiagnosed with mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, or addiction disorders). The treatment is based on education and support, assisting patients to establish more order in the lives they lead by enhancing their self-esteem and social skills, and encouraging healthy eating and lifestyles and taking medication if necessary. Treatment is beneficial for up to 60 percent of ADD patients. It is not recommended to use in children because it is not safe for them.