5 Reasons ADD Symptoms In Adults Can Be A Beneficial Thing
Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults
You forget appointments or tasks? Perhaps you enter rooms without knocking or interrupt others when they speak. These behaviors could be ADHD symptoms if they cause you to have conflict in your everyday life.
Adults with ADHD frequently suffer from mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders. The signs of ADHD can be elicited by routine questions in the interview with a clinical psychologist.
Symptoms
A person with ADD is unable to pay close attention to details, organizing activities, or following through on commitments. They make impulsive mistakes at school or work, and forgets important things such as bills and appointments and is unable to stay focused on conversation and leisure activities. Someone with this kind of personality is unable to control their emotions and can easily be distracted by other people.
In order to be diagnosed with ADD, people over age 7 must be afflicted by inattention-related symptoms for at minimum six months. The symptoms must be present on two separate occasions and the patient's issues have to interfere with school, social or work-related functioning. Teachers and parents should provide feedback, along with medical observation and a thorough assessment. Some patients have a combination of symptoms in both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories. The symptoms of ADD combined are not as apparent and may be difficult to identify by family physicians. However, it is an illness that can be diagnosed and treated by primary care doctors.
Diagnosis
ADD is a typical mental disorder that affects children, but it's not always recognized as an adult. Family physicians can play a significant role in identifying ADD and refer adults to treatment, specifically those who have been discharged from mental health services or don't have a diagnosis at all.
adhd in men symptoms is based upon the clinical assessment of a patient, often supported by self-rating scales and interviews and observation of the patient in different situations (eg at work, at home and socially) and complete medical history, taking into account previous issues and current difficulties and getting feedback from a school or the employer. It is crucial to rule out other reasons for the person's symptoms like sleep issues or learning disabilities, alcohol or drug use or mood disorders, as these 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. Inattentive ADD is diagnosed when the clinician finds six or more inattentive symptoms in two of seven subcategories. These include difficulties in paying attention or staying on track, disorganization or forgetfulness, inability to follow the rules or instructions, or difficulties in 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 be present for at least 6 months and have impaired functioning in two different areas of a person's life. In at least half of all people with ADD the disorder is accompanied by a comorbid mental or psychiatric issues that include mood disorders (depression, dysthymia and bipolar affective disorder), addictions, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
The symptoms of ADD can be reversed, but the best way to treat it is by applying strategies to help people establish a structure in their lives and alter their habits. Goal setting, daily routines and using lists and reminders are helpful. It is also crucial to help people understand their own triggers for impulsive behavior and to provide methods for reducing them, such as waiting before acting, evaluating a situation and working out alternatives to take. Sometimes medication is necessary however it is important to test one medication prior to adding another.
Treatment
Adults with inattention ADD often find they struggle at school, work or in their relationships with family and friends. They are more likely to overlook important details, make impulsive mistakes and become easily distracted. They are more likely to be suffering from anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. Fortunately, many adults find treatment options that can assist them in living more productive lives with ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD is one of the most commonly reported mental health disorders, but it is often overlooked in family practice. This could be because family physicians aren't familiar with symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD or because many people with ADD/ADHD suffer from comorbid disorders, such as anxiety or mood disorders.
A diagnosis of inattention ADD is based on an evaluation that includes feedback from teachers or other professionals, as well as clinical observation, and a thorough medical history. The symptoms have to be problematic in multiple settings on an ongoing basis and cause significant impairment. To diagnose inattentive ADD children who are under 17 years old must have at least six symptomatic signs in the category of inattentional behavior. Adults need at least five of the 11 inattention-related behaviors.
Management
Family physicians must be aware of ADD in adult patients since the condition can be serious. Inattentive ADD is more frequently acknowledged in the adult population than the hyperactive impulsive form of ADHD but it is not widely understood by family physicians and many patients are left undiagnosed. In many cases, the inattentive type of ADD is mistakenly categorized as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorders, or substance abuse disorders). Treatment is based on education and support and helps patients create more structure in their lives, improving self-esteem and social skills, encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle and, if necessary, medication. As high as 60% of ADD sufferers can benefit from treatment. It is not recommended for children.