The Basics of Adult
ADD/ADHD
Attention
Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADD/ADHD) is a neurobiological condition that is thought
to affect nearly 20 percent of the American population.
ADD/ADHD is a condition that affects children, adolescents,
and adults of all ages. It affects more males than females;
ADD/ADHD also affects people of all races and cultural
backgrounds.
It is believed that at least half of children with attention
deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
continue to have problems as adults, comprising about
4 percent of the adult population in the United States.
As the general public has become more aware of adult
ADD/ADHD, there has been an increased interest in teaching
patients how
to handle ADD in adult life and situations.
An adult with Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder has a different complex of symptoms
than a child does. Often the most prominent characteristic
of adult ADD/ADHD is difficulty with executive functioning,
frequently becoming noticeable with ADD/ADHD
in the workplace. As a person matures, the childhood
symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder may evolve. Common symptoms of
adult ADD/ADHD include:
- Poor
attention; excessive distractibility
- Physical
restlessness or hyperactivity
- Excessive
impulsivity; saying or doing things without thinking
- Excessive
and chronic procrastination
- Difficulty
getting started on tasks
- Difficulty
completing tasks
- Frequently
losing things
- Poor
organization, planning, and time management skills
- Excessive
forgetfulness
Not
everyone who suffers from adult Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder displays all of the symptoms,
nor does every person with adult ADD/ADHD experience
the symptoms of ADD/ADHD to the same level of severity
or impairment. Adult Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can cause problems in
jobs and careers, at home, in family and other relationships,
in parenting ADHD children,
and with tasks of daily living.
It's
important to remember that the self-control and self-regulation
problems seen in cases of adult Attention Deficit
Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
are not a matter of deliberate choice. These problems
are caused by neurological events or conditions. People
with adult ADD/ADHD know how to behave. They generally
know what is expected in a given situation. But they
run into trouble at the point of performance -- that
moment in time when they must inhibit behavior to
meet situational demands. Their troubles may show
up in how they act in the outside world, or internally.
They characteristically have inconsistent performance.
This inconsistency is often mistaken for a lack of
regard or respect, or as a lack of effort.
There is no cure for adult Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. When properly diagnosed
and treated, adult ADD/ADHD can be well managed, leading
to increased satisfaction in life and significant
improvements in daily functioning. Some ADD/ADHD adults
have found behavior
therapy for ADD/ADHD to be helpful in controlling
their symptoms.
It's
often recommended that those who suffer from adult
Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder seek the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist,
because three out of four adults with Attention Deficit
Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
also suffer from other problems including depression,
bipolar disorder, anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse,
and learning disabilities. It's unlikely that treatment
for any of these problems will succeed unless ADD/ADHD
is identified and treated as well. Similarly, just
treating adult ADD/ADHD probably won't make other
disorders go away.
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