Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you find yourself unable to remember the dates or tasks you have to complete at work? You might be a nuisance in rooms without knocking, or interrupt people when they're speaking. If these actions cause conflict in your life, they may be signs of ADHD.
Adults often experience comorbid psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders with their ADHD. The signs of ADHD can be elicited by routine questions during the clinical interview.
Symptoms
A person suffering from ADD isn't able to pay focus on details, organising activities, or executing on commitments. They make impulsive mistakes at school or work, forgets important items such as bills and appointments and is unable to stay focused on conversation and leisure activities. A person who is this type struggles to control their emotions and can easily be distracted by other people.
To be diagnosed with ADD individuals over the age of 7 must have been afflicted by inattention symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms should manifest at least twice and impact the patient's school, social or work performance. Teachers and parents must provide feedback, in addition to an examination of the patient's clinical condition and a thorough history. 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 evident and can be difficult for family doctors to recognize. However it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is one of the most frequent mental health disorders but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. add symptoms in women are a good source for diagnosing ADD for adults, especially those who have not been diagnosed or dismissed.
Diagnosis is based upon clinical assessment, which is often aided by self-rating scales, interview and observation of the patient's behavior in various situations (eg at home, at work and socially) as well as complete medical history, taking into account past problems and present difficulties and obtaining feedback from the school or the employer. female add symptoms is important to exclude other causes for the symptoms a person experiences, like sleep disorders and 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 the clinician finds six or more symptoms of inattention in two of seven subcategories. These include difficulty paying attention or staying on track, disorganization or forgetfulness, failure to adhere to guidelines or rules, 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.
In order to be diagnosed as having ADD, symptoms must have been evident in at least two different areas of the person's life for at least six months. In the majority of people with ADD it is accompanied by a comorbid mental or psychiatric issues such as mood disorders (depression, bipolar affective disorder and dysthymia) and addictions, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed however the best way to treat it is applying strategies to help people establish a structure in their lives and alter their behavior. Setting goals, routines for the day and using lists and reminders can be useful. It is also essential to educate people about their triggers for impulsive behaviour and offer strategies for controlling them, such as taking time before taking action, evaluating the situation and working out alternative courses of action. Sometimes, medication is necessary, but a test of one medication should be given before adding another one to ensure it is effective.
Treatment
Adults with inattentive ADD may have difficulties working, at school or in their relationships. They tend to make careless mistakes, overlook important details and get easily distracted. They are also more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse. There are many treatment options available to those suffering from ADD/ADHD, which can assist them in living more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD, which is among the most frequent mental disorders, is frequently ignored by family doctors. This could be due to the fact that doctors in the family are not familiar with symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD or because a large number of people with ADD/ADHD have comorbid disorders, including mood disorders or anxiety.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is dependent on an assessment that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, a clinical observation, and a thorough history. The symptoms have to be problematic in various settings on a continuous basis and cause significant impairment. In order to diagnose inattention ADD children who are under 17 years old must have at least six symptomatic signs in the category of inattentive behavior. Adults must have at minimum five of the 11 inattentive behaviors.
Management
Family physicians must recognize ADD in patients of all ages because the problem can be serious. Inattentive ADD is more often acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive type of ADHD but it is still not widely understood by family physicians, and a lot of patients are left undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive form of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorder) or anxiety addiction disorders. The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients to establish more order in their lives and improve their self-esteem as well as social skills, and encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits and taking medication if necessary. As high as 60 percent of ADD sufferers benefit from medication. It is not recommended for children.