Surprisingly, it’s only been fairly recently that ADD symptoms in adults have been connected with what is now known as adult attention deficit disorder. For years, ADD was believed by many to only occur in childhood. It was formerly known as something you eventually just “grew out of.” However, we now know today that adult ADD is very real and if ADD symptoms in adults go untreated, this gap can create many negative consequences in the life of the adult who is experiencing severe ADD symptoms.
However, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding this condition to the point where some people claim it is over diagnosed and “fake” while others insist that the condition may actually be underdiagnosed. That’s not to mention the hot topic of whether ADD medications – some of which contain powerful amphetamines and other stimulants – are appropriate for children. But, while the media, talking heads and social commentators argue about the disorder’s significance and treatment, ADD symptoms in adults persist nonetheless. In discussing these symptoms and the condition of ADD/ADHD, it’s important that we try to remain as objective as possible. Rather than discounting the condition or jumping to an unfounded diagnosis, we need to use current medical data to draw our own conclusions.
ADD Symptoms in Adults: What to Look For
First, if you’ve ever heard someone say that so called ADD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is merely a matter of laziness or lack of motivation, you’d be doing yourself a service to completely discard any of his or her advice. Also, medical professionals have agreed that ADD is not a learning disability, language defect or form of dyslexia, as was previously thought years ago. Furthermore, it is a clear error in judgment to mistake ADD with low intelligence, and in most cases, just the opposite is likely to be true.
In many cases, for the non-ADD person on the outside looking in, the various ADD symptoms in adults may appear to be less severe than they actually are. But for adults with ADD, their lives may be a seemingly unsolvable mystery of failed commitments, forgotten appointments and incessant distractibility. It’s almost like walking around in a slight daze or thick fog that never seems to dissipate.
The Three Main ADD Symptoms in Adults
Furthermore, before we list the specific ADD symptoms in adults, it’s worth noting that the diagnosis of whether a certain person has ADD also has a lot to do with how the condition effects his or her life. For instance, many people with ADD are highly creative and through a series of self-help techniques and behavior modification, they are able to lead fulfilled and productive lives. However, for others suffering from the signs and symptoms of ADD in adults, their lives may incredibly dysfunctional as a direct result of untreated ADD and medication together with therapy may be capable of utterly transforming their lives for the better.
According to the renowned bestseller “Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood” by Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey, ADD can be defined as a neurological syndrome whose essential defining symptoms include distractibility, impulsivity and hyperactivity. It is believed that roughly 15 million Americans suffer from either ADD or ADHD. Due to the nature of the condition, it is quite common for a sufferer to be unaware that he or she even has ADD until years later.
How to Manage ADD Symptoms in Adults
First, if you were diagnosed with childhood ADD, you have a one in three chance of outgrowing the condition. So, if you had ADD as a child but are still experiencing the three hallmark symptoms of ADD mentioned above – along with other signs like general disorganization, missed appointments and excessive procrastination – then you may want to speak to your doctor about these symptoms and whether they may be related to adult ADD.
If you had these symptoms as a child, but never saw a medical professional or specialist and the condition went unrecognized throughout your childhood, there’s a chance they could have stayed with you into adulthood. However, it’s also important that you know that some ADD symptoms in adults can also be confused with co-occurring conditions or separate conditions entirely. For instance, it is quite possible for someone suffering from distractibility, procrastination and other symptoms as a result of undiagnosed depression to mistake their condition for ADD. However, that’s not to say people don’t suffer from conditions like ADD and depression simultaneously, since they most certainly do. In either case, the best thing you can do is discuss these concerns with your doctor and he or she will hopefully provide some insight or at least point you in the direction of an ADD specialist.
So, overall, you can see that the main ADD symptoms in adults involve impulsivity, disorganization, forgetfulness, emotional disturbances and frequent distractibility. While other symptoms certainly may be accompanying those listed above, these are the biggest signs of ADD symptoms in adults. Again, it is highly recommended that you discuss any concerns with a qualified medical professional so you can be properly tested for ADD or ADHD. Hopefully, this article has helped to clear some of the air around this controversial topic and allowed you to accurately identify ADD symptoms in adults.