Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? Perhaps you enter rooms without knocking or interrupt others when they're speaking. These actions may be ADHD symptoms when they cause you to have conflict in your everyday life.
Adults who suffer from ADHD frequently suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. I Am Psychiatry UK asked during the clinical interview can reveal the symptoms of ADHD.
Signs and symptoms
A person suffering from ADD may have difficulty organizing activities, paying attention to particulars or keeping commitments. They often make careless mistakes at school or work, forgets important things such as appointments and bills and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Furthermore, a person who suffers from this type of ADD struggles to keep his or her emotions in check and is easily distracted by others.
To be diagnosed with ADD they must have had inattention symptoms at least six month prior. The symptoms must manifest at least twice and interfere with the patient's social, educational or work performance. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, along with 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 ADD combined aren't always evident and are often difficult to identify by family doctors. It is a condition which can be diagnosed by primary care providers.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is one of the most common childhood mental health conditions but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians are an excellent source to diagnose ADD in adults, particularly those who haven't been diagnosed or have been discharged.
The diagnosis is based on a medical assessment, which may include self-ratings and interviews, as well as observation of patients in different situations (e.g. at home, work or socially) as well as a thorough medical history that includes the past and present challenges and feedback from the employer or school. It is crucial to rule out other reasons for the symptoms of a person, such as 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 is diagnosed when a doctor observes six or more inattentive symptoms within two of the seven subcategories. This includes: difficulty in staying focused or focused, disorganization, forgetfulness, failure to adhere to rules or instructions, and difficulty 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.
In general, to be diagnosed with ADD the symptoms must have been present for at least six months and be affecting functioning in two different areas of a person's daily life. At least half of people with ADD have a history of comorbid psychological or mental disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions and bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) and personality disorders, addictions and anxiety disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed, however the best way to treat it is by adopting strategies that allow people to organize their lives and change their behaviour. Goal setting, daily routines and using lists and reminders can be helpful. It is crucial to teach people to manage their impulsive behavior as well as what causes them. Techniques like waiting before taking action, or evaluating a situation and coming up with alternatives are useful. Sometimes, medication is necessary, but a test of one drug should be conducted prior to adding another one to ensure it's effective.
Treatment
Adults who aren't attentive ADD typically have trouble at school, at work or in their personal relationships. They tend to forget important details, make impulsive mistakes and become easily distracted. They are also more likely to experience anxiety, depression or abuse. There are a variety of treatment options for people with ADD/ADHD to help them lead more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD, one of the most frequent mental disorders, is frequently neglected by family physicians. This could be because family doctors are unfamiliar with symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD or because a large number of people with ADD/ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders, like anxiety or mood disorders.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADD is by a thorough assessment which includes feedback from teachers and other professionals as in addition to clinical observations. The symptoms must be persistently challenging and cause significant impairment in multiple environments. To diagnose inattentive ADD, children under 17 years old must have at least six symptomatic signs that are indicative of inattentional behavior. Adults must have at least five of the eleven inattention-related behaviors.
Management
It is vital that family doctors are aware of ADD in adults, as the issues can be serious. Inattentional ADD is more commonly acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD but it is still not well-understood by family physicians and many patients are left undiagnosed. Often, the inattentive form of ADD is mistakenly categorized as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorders or addiction disorders). The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients to develop more structure in their lives by enhancing their self-esteem and social skills, encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits and taking medication should it be required. Medication is helpful in up to 60% of ADD patients. It is not recommended for children.