Griffith Goas

Griffith R. Goas
HSC 160
Dr. Bock
4/17/07

ADD in Adults

Until about the last ten years, it was believed that ADD was a childhood disorder, which would usually disappear in adolescence. Research has shown otherwise. It is now known that many individual's symptoms continue into adulthood and cause problems in adult life. It often creates difficulties in managing the everyday tasks and responsibilities of everyday life, such as work, school, relationships, running a household, and parenting. Unfortunately, perhaps millions of American adults have ADD and have not been identified or treated successfully.
Adult attention deficit disorder is the term used to describe the neurological disorder (ADD) "attention deficit disorder" when the conditions present in adulthood. One of the theories out there, is that ADD is the result of less than normal activity the frontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for the regulation of attention, impulse control, emotions, and motor activity. It is largely inherited and tends to run in families. Because of the difficulty of diagnosing it, the exact prevalence in adults is unknown.
Adult ADD is a lifelong disorder, but the pervasiveness in adults is difficult to measure because individuals differ in their level of affliction, as well as their abilities to compensate for their difficulties. Many only notice symptoms in adulthood and some stop seeking treatment in adulthood. For those who seek treatment, over time, may develop coping skills and other forms of adaptive behavior, which make symptoms less noticeable to themselves and others.
So what is the difference between ADD and ADHD? ADD is often used as a generic term to describe the whole disability. The term ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A person may either be diagnosed with ADHD or ADD depending on whether they are hyperactive or not. It is possible for someone to have ADD without being hyperactive. To accommodate this possibility, ADHD is often written with brackets around the "H" (i.e. AD(H)D). You may also see it written as AD/HD. I have read about three types of AD(H)D:
Combined Type (hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive)
Inattentive Type
Hyperactive, Impulsive Type
Identifying the cause of ADD is often difficult, because no particular organic signs or set of neurological indicators are specific. The primary signs are behavioral and vary with situation and time. Social and medical histories and school reports are normally used for diagnosis.
As with general intelligence, math skills, athletic ability, artistic talent, etc., many researchers believe that the abilities and limitations that comprise ADD are largely inherited and passed down within the family. As many as 80% of ADD cases are thought to be the result of genetics, with the remainder caused by toxins, trauma or illnesses introduced during pregnancy, delivery or the newborn period. If a family member has been diagnosed with ADD, there is a greater possibility that a sibling, parent, child or blood relative also has ADD.
The treatment for adult ADD centers on managing symptoms through behavior modification, medication or combining mediation and behavior therapy. Behavior therapy uses different learning techniques, which change human behavior. When it comes to treatment, most of the experts in the field of ADD endorse the multidisciplinary approach. Medications, if indicated, often will provide positive results but are not the answer to treatment. Individuals and families require education about ADD, its causes and the development of compensation skills to overcome specific problem areas in the person's life. “This might include: how to become more organized and successful in accomplishing tasks that need to be done; overcoming procrastination; eliminating clutter; controlling impulsive spending and managing money; developing time management skills; improving interpersonal relationships; acquiring communication skills; managing your mood; and becoming more effective as a parent or spouse. Also, ADD does not exist in a vacuum. Co-existing problems (anxiety or depression; substance abuse; low self-esteem; family or marital discord; work or school problems; conflict with others, etc.) may need to be addressed.” (http://www.akrongeneral.org/portal/page?_pageid=153,146423&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL)
A complete evaluation is necessary to establish a diagnosis, in order to rule out other causes for the problems and determine if there are any co-existing conditions. ADD cannot be self-diagnosed and requires an evaluation by professionals with special knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating ADD. It is commonly overlooked or obscured by other significant difficulties or emotional problems. For adults suspected of ADD, the evaluation would include a family, childhood and school history to determine the presence of symptoms and problems commonly experienced during childhood as well as a detailed review of the person's adult history to identify symptoms and problems typically experienced by ADD adults.
About three to five times more males than females have been diagnosed with ADD. However, some researchers believe many girls who "daydream" or "drift away" in school have ADD that simply hasn't been noticed. ADD can make life harder A recent Harvard study of adults with ADD found they are more likely to bounce from job to job, to suffer from depression, or to abuse drugs or alcohol. However, effective medications and behavior treatments are available.
Living with ADD is different for everyone. People can learn to manage their individual symptoms by realizing that they do have strengths and positive attributes.
Brainstorming ideas usually comes easily to people with ADD, so they can consider all possibilities and solve problems in a creative way. Having a lot of thoughts can add to the liveliness and enthusiasm in conversations.
Everyone has trouble concentrating, restlessness and recollecting or losing things occasionally. However, inattentive or impulsive behavior that never goes away could be a sign that you have adult ADD. There is a higher risk that you have adult ADD if your problems have existed since childhood.