Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? Perhaps you enter rooms without knocking, or interrupt people when they are speaking. These behaviors could be ADHD symptoms when they cause you to have conflict in your daily life.
Adults suffering from ADHD frequently suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. The routine questions that are asked during the clinical interview can reveal signs of ADHD.
Symptoms
A person with ADD may have difficulty organizing activities, paying attention to details or keeping commitments. They make impulsive mistakes at school or at work, forgets important items such as bills and appointments and is unable to stay focused on conversations and leisure activities. A person with this type struggles to control their emotions and is easily distracted by the activities of 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 on two separate occasions and impact the patient's social, educational or work-related performance. Teachers and parents should provide feedback, along with 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 aren't as distinct and may be difficult for family physicians to identify. However it is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
Although ADD is among the most frequent mental health issues but it's not always acknowledged until later in life. Family physicians are a great source of information for diagnosing ADD for adults, especially those who haven't been diagnosed or have been dismissed.
Diagnosis is based upon clinical assessment, which is often aided by self-rating scales and interviews and observation of the patient in various situations (eg at home, at work and socially) and a thorough medical history, incorporating previous issues and current difficulties and obtaining feedback from school or the employer. It is crucial to rule out other reasons for the person's symptoms like sleep issues or learning disabilities, alcohol and drugs or mood disorders because they may be similar 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. Inattentional ADD can be identified when the clinician finds six or more signs of inattention within two of the seven subcategories. This includes: difficulty paying attention or staying focused, disorganization, forgetfulness, failure to follow 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.
To be classified as having ADD symptoms must have been evident in at least two different areas of a persons life for at least six months. In at least half of all people with ADD, the disorder is accompanied by a comorbid mental or psychiatric issues, including mood disorders (depression, dysthymia and bipolar affective disorder) as well as anxiety disorders, addictions and personality disorders.
Symptoms of ADD are reversible, but the best approach is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and implement behavioural changes. Setting goals, establishing routines for the day and using lists and reminding people are all helpful. It is also important to educate people about their triggers for impulsive behaviour and provide techniques for controlling them, such as taking time before acting, evaluating a situation and coming up with different options for action. The use of medication is sometimes required, but a trial of one drug should be administered prior to adding another to ensure that it's effective.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD may have difficulties at work, in school or in their relationships. They tend to make careless mistakes, forget important details, and are easily distracted. They are also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or abuse. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to adults with ADD/ADHD that can assist them in living more productive lives.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders, but it is often overlooked in family practices. This is likely due to the fact that family physicians are not familiar with the symptoms that manifest in adults or because people who have ADD/ADHD frequently have multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, depression dysthymia, bipolar affective disorder) and anxiety or addiction disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is based on a thorough evaluation that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as and clinical observation. adhd symptoms for women have to be problematic in various settings on a continuous basis, and cause significant impairment. To be able to identify inattentive ADD children younger than 17 years of age must display at least six signs in the category of inattentive behavior. Adults need at least five of the 11 inattentional behaviors.
Management
Family physicians need to recognize ADD in patients who are adults because the issue could be serious. content in adults is more common than hyperactive impulsive ADHD however, family physicians aren't aware of it. A lot of patients are undiagnosed. The inattentive version of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorders or addiction disorders). The treatment is based on education and support, which helps patients to establish more structure in their lives and improve their self-esteem as well as social skills, encouraging healthy lifestyles and eating habits and taking medication if necessary. Up to 60 percent of ADD sufferers benefit from medication. It is not recommended to use in children as it is not safe for children.