Adult ADHD Symptoms
Adult ADHD can be a problem. Forgetfulness, disorganization and the inability to follow instructions could be detrimental to one's work, family and relationships.
Adults suffering from ADHD (formerly ADD), which is a disorder characterized by a predominant inattention type, often lack the hyperactivity component. They might also experience other signs like being distracted by their thoughts, losing objects or causing disruption to others.
Difficulty Listening
Listening isn't something that happens automatically. It requires effort. When talking to someone, you have to focus on listening for the words spoken and process what is being said so that you can respond in a manner that is appropriate. This can be difficult for anyone, but especially those who suffer from ADHD.
Your brain can't process information fast enough. This can cause issues in a variety ways, including making it difficult to hear other people talk and comprehend them.
You might also be impulsive and interrupt other people frequently. This affects your ability process what they say, and hinders you to respond in the best way possible. This can make the other person feel unheard and frustrated.
It can be difficult to record information and then recall it later. This can lead to you not remembering important details during the course of a conversation, and could have serious consequences at work.
When you are unable to take in information quickly, it can also be hard to follow up on important discussions or take the next steps to close an open loop. This could be an issue if you're the middle of a project that you've been given and must act quickly.
Family doctors are the best to diagnose adult ADD. They are familiar with symptoms and can recognize clues. If necessary, they can refer patients to mental health services. In symptoms of adult add to the treatment offered by social workers, psychiatrists or psychologists, medications may be prescribed. They can be stimulants or other non-stimulant substances. They can help improve your concentration, but are not a cure. These things can help: improving communication skills, exercising regularly and using relaxation techniques.
Inattentiveness
Inattention and disorganization are the most prominent symptom of Predominantly inattentive Type ADHD. The symptoms of inattention are less apparent than impulsivity or hyperactivity, which are the other two subtypes. Those who have this version of the disorder often forget important details in the workplace or at school and are unable to follow directions. They may be daydreamers or appear to be disinterested in their work or meetings.
While everyone can be forgetful or lose their focus at times, when these issues occur often and affect your daily life, they could be signs of a mental health issue. If you're experiencing severe problems with your attention, it's a good idea to consult a medical professional. This may include making careless mistakes that can have long-lasting consequences, such as forgetting to file taxes or sending an email to the wrong recipient.
Inattention to detail may also negatively impact relationships. These sloppy mistakes can cause stress to family members and colleagues, particularly when they are required to fix the mistakes repeatedly. These problems can cause problems in the classroom or at work and could affect the ability of an individual to grow their career or keep their current position.
It's important that you see your doctor if you have symptoms of inattentive ADHD. The problem with focusing may be caused by many things like fatigue, side-effects of certain medications, and other related conditions such as hypothyroidism. Inattention can also be a sign of anxiety or depression which are common among people who have ADHD.
The American Psychiatric Association has set nine distinct symptoms as the criteria to diagnose ADHD. For adults at least five of these must be present in order to qualify for an assessment. The criteria are focused on distraction and inattention, but also include motor hyperactivity, impulsivity, hot temper, disorganization mood swings and emotional hyperactivity. Hallowell and Ratey have expanded the criteria that requires a minimum of six of these behaviors for children who are younger than 17, and at least five for adults aged 17 and over.