In many cases, it is assumed that ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder is only a condition that affects children between infancy and their adolescent years. The truth of the matter is that ADD symptoms can continue well in adulthood. When they are left untreated, they can hinder one's completion of their daily activities and tasks as well as negatively impacting their relationships.
Although ADD can affect adults as well as younger children, ADD symptoms will vary considerably. For instance, instead of the hyperactivity factor that typically exists with children, the adult may experience restlessness. Another problem that the adult has which children do not is that they will have difficulties with employment and their relationships. What is important is that you not only have to learn to recognize ADD symptoms, you have to know how to manage them as well.
ADD symptoms have been classified into three subcategories of the disorder which are:
Combined ADD/ADHD - this is the most common form of the disorder and involves all of the symptoms
Hyperactive-Impulsive ADD/ADHD - characterized by hyperactivity without the inattentiveness factor
Inattentive ADD/ADHD - this type was previously diagnosed as ADD and is characterized by impaired attention and an inability to concentrate
For the disorder to be diagnosed properly, some of the impairment causing ADD symptoms must be present by the time the child has reached the age of seven. Additionally, this impairment must be present in multiple settings. For example, the individual needs to be experiencing the impairment in school or at work as well as at home. Finally, there needs to be clear cut evidence that the ADD symptoms are interfering with the individual's ability to function properly at home, in social environments, and at school or work.
Possible signs of ADD
If you think that a child in the home has developed ADD/ADHD, you might want to ask yourself the following questions in order to determine if these are actually ADD symptoms. Is the child:
o acting out before considering the consequences of their actions
o blurting out or speaking out of turn
o disorganized most of the time?
o distracted easily?
o encountering difficulties when they are concentrating on only one thing?
o encountering difficulty when trying to find things around the home or misplacing items
o experiencing difficulties with prioritizing?
o feeling antsy and/or restless regularly?
o forgetting things such as schoolwork and tasks around the home?
o frequently taking risks?
o getting bored easily?
o getting impatient easily?
o having difficulties paying attention to others in conversations, listening to other individuals, or whenever they are reading?
o having difficulty managing their time or losing track of time?
o having problems following multiple steps in a set of directions?
o making careless mistakes whenever they work on difficult or tedious projects?
o procrastinating more often than not?
o blurting out or speaking out of turn
o disorganized most of the time?
o distracted easily?
o encountering difficulties when they are concentrating on only one thing?
o encountering difficulty when trying to find things around the home or misplacing items
o experiencing difficulties with prioritizing?
o feeling antsy and/or restless regularly?
o forgetting things such as schoolwork and tasks around the home?
o frequently taking risks?
o getting bored easily?
o getting impatient easily?
o having difficulties paying attention to others in conversations, listening to other individuals, or whenever they are reading?
o having difficulty managing their time or losing track of time?
o having problems following multiple steps in a set of directions?
o making careless mistakes whenever they work on difficult or tedious projects?
o procrastinating more often than not?
If you notice any of these symptoms or a combination of them, consult with your child's pediatrician or the family physician so they can evaluate them.
