Recognizing ADD Symptoms in Adults

Do you forget appointments or responsibilities? You may interrupt others when they are talking or barge into rooms without knocking. These behaviors could be ADHD symptoms when they cause you be in conflict with your daily life.

Adults frequently suffer from comorbid mental disorders, such as anxiety and mood disorders that are associated with their adhd symptoms and treatment. The signs of adhd symptoms in men can be discovered through routine questions that are asked during the interview.

Signs and symptoms

A person suffering from ADD has difficulty paying close focus on details, organising activities, or executing on commitments. He or she makes careless errors at school or at work, forgets important items such as bills and appointments, and has difficulty staying focused on conversations and leisure activities. Someone with this kind of personality has difficulty controlling their emotions and can easily be distracted by other people.

To be diagnosed with ADD, people over age 7 must be afflicted by inattention-related symptoms for at least six months. A number of symptoms have to be present on two separate occasions and the patient's issues are affecting school, social or work-related functioning. 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 adhd in adults of ADD combined aren't as obvious and can be difficult to identify by family doctors. It is a condition that can be identified by primary care doctors.

Diagnosis

Although ADD is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions but it's not always acknowledged in adulthood. Family physicians are an excellent source to diagnose ADD for adults, especially those who haven't been diagnosed or discharged.

Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment often assisted by self-rating scales, interviews and observation of the patient's behavior in various situations (eg at home, at work and socially) and complete medical history, taking into account the past and current issues, and obtaining feedback from school or the employer. It is important to rule out other reasons for the symptoms of a person, such as sleep problems as well as learning disabilities, alcohol and drugs or mood disorders because they may have similar symptoms 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 is satisfied that there are six or more indicators of inattention for two of the seven subcategories: difficulty paying attention and difficulty staying focused, disorganization, failing to follow instructions or rules, apathy 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.

To be classified as having ADD, symptoms must be present in at least two areas of a person's life for at least six months. About half of those suffering from ADD have a history of comorbid psychological or mental disorders. These include mood disorders (depressions, bipolar affective disorders and dysthymia) as well as addictions, adhd Symptoms in Men personality disorders and anxiety disorders.

The symptoms of ADD are reversible, however the best treatment is to implement strategies to help people put structure in their lives and make behavioural changes. Setting goals, creating daily routines and using lists as well as reminding people are all helpful. It is also important to help people understand their triggers for impulsive behaviour and provide techniques for controlling them, like taking time before taking action, evaluating the situation and working out different options for action. Sometimes, medication is required however it is essential to test one medication before adding another.

Treatment

Adults with inattentive ADD often find they have trouble at school, work or in their relationships with family and friends. They tend to forget important details, make impulsive mistakes and become easily distracted. They are also more likely to be suffering from anxiety, depression or abuse. There are many treatment options for people with ADD/adhd in adult men symptoms to help them lead more productive lives.

ADD/ADHD, one of the most prevalent mental disorders, is often neglected by family physicians. This is likely due to the fact that family physicians are unfamiliar with the symptom presentation in adults, or because those who suffer from ADD/ADHD are often suffering from multiple disorders, including mood disorders (depression bipolar affective disorder, depression dysthymia, bipolar affective disorder) and anxiety, or substance use disorders.

A diagnosis of inattentive ADD can be made based on a thorough evaluation that includes feedback from teachers and other professionals, as and clinical observation. The symptoms have to be problematic in multiple settings on an ongoing basis, and cause significant impairment. Children younger than 17 years old need to have at minimum six signs of inattention in the category and adults need at minimum 5 of the 11 symptoms to meet a diagnosis of inattentive ADD.

Management

It is very important that family doctors recognize ADD in adults, as the key symptoms of adhd can be serious. Inattentional ADD in adults is more prevalent than hyperactive impulsive ADHD, but family physicians still do not understand it well. A lot of patients are undiagnosed. The inattentive version of ADD is misdiagnosed as mood disorders (depression or bipolar affective disorders or substance abuse disorders). Treatment is focused on education and support to help patients establish more discipline in their lives, improving self-esteem and social interactions and promoting an active lifestyle and healthy diet, and medication if needed. About 60 percent of ADD sufferers can benefit from medication. It is not recommended for children.