Adult ADHD Symptoms
Adult ADHD can pose challenges. Disorganization, forgetfulness and the inability to follow instructions could be detrimental to one's work, family and relationships.
In contrast to children, adults with Predominantly Inattentive Type ADHD (formerly ADD) often do not suffer from the hyperactivity aspect of the disorder. But they may experience other signs like daydreaming, losing things or interrupting others.
Hearing difficulties
Listening doesn't happen by itself. It requires effort. When you are talking, you have to focus on listening for the words spoken and processing the words spoken to be able to respond in a manner that is appropriate. This can be difficult for anyone but especially for those who suffer from ADHD.
Often, your brain can't process information in a fast enough manner. This can cause problems in many ways, like making it difficult to understand and hear the words of others.
You might also be impulsive and interrupt other people frequently. This can hinder your ability process what they say, and hinders you from responding in the best way possible. This can make the other person feel unheard and frustrated.
Another problem is that your memory may not be good and it's difficult to store information to be able to recall it later. This could cause you to forget important details during a conversation and could have serious consequences in the workplace.
It can be difficult to follow up on important discussions or to follow the next steps needed to close a loop when you are unable effectively process information. This is an issue if you're the middle of a project you have been assigned and need to act immediately.
Family doctors are the most likely to recognize adult ADD. They are aware of the symptoms and can spot clues. They can refer patients to mental health professionals if necessary. In signs adhd to the treatment offered by psychologists, psychiatrists, or social workers, medication can be used. They can be stimulants, or non-stimulants. They can improve your concentration, but they are not cure. All of these things can aid in improving the ability to communicate, exercising regularly and utilizing relaxation techniques.
Inattentiveness
Inattention and disorganization are the primary symptom of predominately inattentive Type ADHD. The symptoms of inattention are less apparent than impulsivity or hyperactivity which are the other two subtypes. The people who suffer from this type of the disorder often forget important details at school or at work and have trouble following instructions. They may be daydreamers or appear to be uninterested in their work or meetings.
While everyone can be forgetful or lose focus at times, when these issues occur regularly and interfere with everyday life they could be indicators of a mental health disorder. If you are having serious issues with attention, it's worth consulting an expert in medical care. This could mean making careless mistakes that result in lasting consequences such as not remembering to pay taxes or sending an email to the wrong address.
Inattention to detail can also have a major impact on relationships. These mistakes that aren't made in a timely manner can create stress for family members and colleagues, particularly for those who are asked to correct the mistakes over and over. These mistakes can create problems in the classroom as well as on the job. This may impact an individual's ability progress in their career or keep their current position.
It's important that you see a doctor if you experience symptoms of inattentive ADHD. There are a variety of possible causes of the difficulty focus, such as fatigue, side effects from certain medications and other underlying conditions like hypothyroidism. Inattention can also be a sign of anxiety or depression, which are common among those who have ADHD.
The criteria for determining ADHD is determined by the American Psychiatric Association and includes nine distinct symptoms. For adults at minimum five of them must be present for an assessment. The criteria for diagnosis include inattention, distractibility motor hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. They also include hot tempers, emotional overactivity, mood swings and disorganization. Hallowell and Ratey have expanded the criteria, which requires at least six of these behavior patterns in children under age 17, and at least five for adults of 17 and over.