Adhd Signs And Symptoms In Adults
Those diagnosed with ADHD as children may notice fewer symptoms as they approach adulthood. However, some individuals continue to experience significant symptoms that get in the way of their daily tasks and activities as adults.
Some symptoms of adult ADHD include the following :
Trouble Focusing on a Task
A person with ADHD may constantly daydream and zone in and out of conversations. Staying focused on repetitive, boring, or routine tasks is very challenging, causing them to fall behind on deadlines.
Being Forgetful
Adults with ADHD tend to miss deadlines, meetings, and important dates. Forgetting instructions, misplacing items, and losing track of belongings may also be signs of ADHD.
Organization and Prioritization Issues
ADHD may cause a person to struggle with organizing and prioritizing tasks since the ADHD brain tends to value novelty over importance. A long to-do list can quickly overwhelm someone with ADHD.
Restlessness and fidgeting
A person with ADHD may constantly move about, fidget, shift in their seat, or tap their hands or feet. They may find it hard to sit still and are always entertaining a flurry of thoughts.
Conversation Roadblocks
Someone with ADHD may find it difficult to stay focused on the conversation, especially if the topic doesnt interest them. They may interrupt the other person, go off on a tangent while speaking, or speak too quickly or too much.
Impulsive Actions
Emotional Dysregulation
Differences Between Add And Adhd
“ADHD” is the abbreviation for “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”the current, official term used to describe the behavioral condition of overactivity and difficulty paying attention. The name has changed multiple times “attention deficit disorder,” or “ADD,” is one of the previous names that is still used unofficially. The use of multiple termseven though ADD had been officially replaced by ADHDcreates a lot of confusion.
History Of Add And Adhd
The American Psychiatric Association defines mental health conditions to help standardize terms and criteria used for diagnosis. In 1980, ADD replaced a previous behavioral disorder called hyperkinetic reaction of childhood when the classification was redefined, and then in 1987 ADHD replaced ADD. However, this change was controversial.
Here is a brief timeline of the changes in the behavioral disorder now known as ADHD:
- 1968: The behavioral disorder called “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood” was introduced.
- 1980: “ADD” replaced “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood,” with changes to the classification.
- 1987: “ADD without hyperactivity” was removed and replaced with “ADHD.”
- 1994: Three subtypes were added to the classification of ADHD.
- 2013: “Subtypes” of ADHD were changed to “presentations” of ADHD.
Due to the controversies and changes over the years, there is a lot of confusion about the terms “ADD” and “ADHD.””ADD” is not officially used anymore, but many people still use it anyway. Some people use the terms “ADD” and “ADHD” interchangeably. Other people use the term “ADD” to describe a presentation of ADHD called inattentive ADHD, or inattentive and distractible ADHD.
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Add Vs Adhd: What’s The Difference
While many people continue to use the terms ADD and ADHD interchangeably, it’s important to recognize that they are not the same. Here are some key points to be aware of:
- ADD is an older term for what is now known as the inattentive type of ADHD.
- The term ADHD has been used to describe both inattentive and hyperactive types since the mid-1990s.
- However, some people continue to use the term ADD as a way to indicate that the condition does not include hyperactivity as a symptom.
- The DSM-5 currently recognizes three subtypes of ADHD: inattentive type , hyperactive-impulsive type, and combined type.
ADD doesn’t manifest itself in the same way that predominantly hyperactive-impulsive or combined types do. Children with these presentations have different symptoms.
Children with the other two presentations of ADHD, for example, tend to act out or exhibit behavior problems in class. Children with inattentive type ADHD are generally not disruptive in school. They may even sit in class quietly, but that doesn’t mean their disorder isn’t a problem and that they’re not struggling to focus. In addition, not all children with inattentive type ADHD are alike.
Children with combined type ADHD display several symptoms of both hyperactive-impulsive type and inattentive type.
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How To Tell Adhd And Anxiety Apart
Though ADHD and anxiety share some similar symptoms, you may be able to tell them apart in the following ways:
- Someone with an anxiety disorder may have trouble concentrating in situations that make them feel worried or nervous. In contrast, someone with ADHD may experience difficulty concentrating even in situations where their mind is calm and quiet.
- People with ADHD may get worried and anxious, but mostly about struggles or problems brought about by their ADHD symptoms. On the other hand, a person with both a generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD may feel anxious about many different things and be in a constant state of worry and fear.
The best way to diagnose your condition is by seeking professional medical advice from your doctor. You may also get a second opinion if unsure about your initial diagnosis.
Anxiety Symptoms In Adults
Many people get anxious, worried, or afraid at some point.
But when feelings of anxiousness interfere with your social life, sleep, and daily activities, this may be a sign that you have an anxiety disorder.
The following are some common signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder:
Difficulty Focusing
Many people with an anxiety disorder often find that they have trouble concentrating. Their minds may go blank or be distracted by worries and fearful thoughts.
Problems with Sleep
An anxiety disorder can make it more challenging for a person to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night.
Excessive Fear, Worry, and Stress
A person with anxiety is constantly tense due to the feeling of impending doom, panic, or danger. This may lead to an increased heart rate, nausea, chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, trembling, and rapid breathing.
Irritability
Someone with anxiety may be easier to upset, which means theyre more likely to lash out at friends and family.
Avoidance
When excessive fear or anxiety strikes, a common behavioral response in those with anxiety is avoidance. For instance, an individual with a social anxiety disorder may avoid social situations or events because of the fear of being judged or embarrassed in front of others.
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When To See A Doctor
Most authorities recommend evaluating kids who are 4 years or older and have these symptoms, says Caroline Carney, M.D., president of behavioral health and chief medical officer at managed health care company Magellan Health. Its generally easier to diagnose the hyperactive symptoms because the behaviors are outside of what is expected for kids at that age.
Children with the inattentive type are usually evaluated and diagnosed laterat 7 or 8 years oldwhen their difficulty concentrating begins to impact their performance in school. Meanwhile, adults should see a doctor about ADHD if they notice a pattern of the previously mentioned symptoms, such as trouble staying focused or forgetting daily tasks and challenges in maintaining relationships and activities.
Are Add And Adhd The Same Thing
Image by Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels.com
Since 1994, experts have used the term Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder to refer to all neurodivergence that affects attention and concentration. However, some people continue to use the term ADD, as they do not experience hyperactivity and associated traits such as lower risk aversion or impulsivity. However, the new definition, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder includes the forward-slash between Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity. This means that people diagnosed with ADHD could have either or both presentations . The presentations are:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity, combined presentation
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity, predominantly inattentive presentation
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity, predominantly inattentive presentation would be comparable to the condition previously known and occasionally referred to, as Attention-Deficit Disorder .
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The Difference Between Adhd Vs Anxiety In Adults
Some people diagnosed with anxiety find that they also display symptoms of ADHD and vice versa. You may find yourself in a similar situation, wondering whats actually causing your symptoms ADHD or anxiety.
While ADHD and anxiety are very different, a few symptoms may overlap. What makes things trickier is that anxiety is often associated with ADHD, as some adults may have both conditions simultaneously.
Research shows that up to 80% of adults diagnosed with ADHD have at least one other disorder affecting their mental health, including mood and anxiety disorders.
If youre looking for more support while you navigate an ADHD diagnosis, check out ADDAs ADHD resource page.
Keep reading to find out the differences between adult ADHD and anxiety, how to tell them apart, and how both diagnoses are typically treated.
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Is It Add Or Adhd Whats The Difference
- Is it ADD or ADHD? Whats the difference?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common childhood developmental condition that affects a persons ability to regulate attention and executive functioning. People with attention difficulties are sometimes referred to as having attention deficit disorder , but is this correct? Are ADHD and ADD the same thing? And if not, what is the difference between ADHD and ADD? Below, we dive into these terms to further your knowledge on the topic.
The earliest potential references to ADHD or ADD date back to ancient Greece, where Hippocrates documented several patients throughout his medical career who experienced a rather inexplicable lack of focus. ADHD was again mentioned by John Locke in his essay Some Thoughts Concerning Education, which observed a group of students who struggled to keep their mind from straying.
In the 1800s, many medical textbooks discussed what, today, are known as ADHD symptoms, under the definitions: nervous child, hypermetamorphosis, simple hyperexcitability, and others. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association formally named it attention deficit disorder, whether the child exhibited hyperactivity or not. It wasnt until 1987 that the standard name of ADD was changed to ADHD. Then, in 1994, ADHD was finally broken down into the three different types, or presentations, that we have today.
Whats The Difference Between Adult Add And Adhd
In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of its Manual of Mental Disorders . Within it were altered diagnostic criteria for attention deficit disorders, leaving only one classificationADHD. The classification is subdivided into three different types of adult ADHD:
For more information about these subtypes, read our post Adult ADHD: Joking Aside, Do You Struggle With It?
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Can Gender Affect Adhd Diagnosis
The social construction and performance of gender stereotypes and the different presentation of ADHD symptoms in girls and boys have significantly led to an underdiagnosis of ADHD in girls. Boys often show hyperactive and impulsive behavior and present with the combined type of ADHD.
On the other hand, girls replicate behaviors of their peers and can adapt better in school, internalize their symptoms, do not exhibit hyperactivity, and at most, be very chatty. These subtle symptoms are often harder to identify. Unfortunately, girls presenting with this type of ADHD may be boxed under the stereotypical picture of girls generally being talkative. This is why boys are diagnosed up to 3 times more than girls.
Under this internalized form of ADHD, girls may often be caught staring off into space daydreaming. Daydreaming ADHD is more common in girls than boys and falls under inattentive ADHD.
If you have a daughter, you could look out for these signs of inattentive ADHD:
- You often find her daydreaming with hyperfocus, to the extent that she might not hear you when you call her name the first time
- She has trouble focusing on academic work or household chores
- She usually stays up late to complete homework at the last minute because she was too distracted before
- She feels anxious and burdened by her inability to focus
Parents And Teachers Become Therapists For Both Add And Adhd Patients
Some of the key training that behavioral therapists can do for all types of ADHD, however, dont involve the patients at all. Instead, training parents and teachers to better handle ADHD-linked behaviors is some of the most effective therapy.
Thats because even the best ABA therapist cant be with a kid 100 percent of the time. And therapy sessions can introduce key techniques, but they cant provide the kind of constant reinforcement that really makes the difference in behavioral issues.
That means that in some sense people who are with the ADHD patient most essentially become an analog for the therapists. And the therapists themselves learn how to train those people to perform the appropriate types of reinforcement. Equally importantly, they train them how to scale their reinforcement and to avoid inadvertently reinforcing the wrong behaviors.
The gut reaction of many authority figures when dealing with kids with ADHD leads to exactly the wrong kind of reinforcement yelling or reacting strenuously when a kid is acting out is a form of reinforcement that might actually increase the problematic behavior.
Thats why behavioral therapists often find themselves in the lead when it comes to managing ADHD cases of all kinds, both in schools and in home environments.
Its tough work, but its also fun and rewarding to watch classrooms become calm and productive places, and families become happy and healthy again.
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What Is Hyperactive Impulse Adhd
Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD includes many of the symptoms of inattentive ADHD but includes fidgeting or squirming, incessant talking, impatience, and a tendency to interrupt others. ADHD-II is characterized by high energy levels, poor impulse control, and difficulty responding to social cues in different contexts.
How Do I Know If I Have Adhd
A number of experts can help make that call. So if you identify with ADHD symptoms, it might be worth making an appointment with a professional to get evaluated. Symptoms for both hyperactive and inattentive subtypes include the ones noted above and the following :
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Difficulty staying quiet
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Losing or misplacing items frequently
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Difficulty concentrating
Thing to know: Women and girls are far less likely to be diagnosed than men. And can instead be mislabeled as spacey. For several reasons. Like the fact that symptoms can present differently in girls and women . Plus, there has been an unequal focus on males in ADHD research. And women and girls often mask their symptoms. Thanks to gender norms. Which can pressure them to stay cooperative and compliant and could prevent an official diagnosis.
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What Is The Meaning Of Add Vs Adhd
ADHD is the official, medical term for the condition regardless of whether a patient demonstrates symptoms of hyperactivity. ADD is a now-outdated term that is typically used to describe inattentive-type ADHD, which has symptoms including disorganization, lack of focus, and forgetfulness. People with inattentive ADHD are not hyper or impulsive.
Before And After 1994
Before 1994, the term for this illness was attention deficit disorder, or ADD. At the time, patients mostly school-age children were diagnosed with ADD if they suffered from inattentiveness and found it challenging to focus. At the time, fidgeting, constant movement, or hyperactivity, werent included in the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder.
However, in 1994, physicians created the term, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, to encompass all attention deficit diagnoses. This term includes diagnoses that didnt include hyperactivity. Today, the condition formerly known as ADD is a type of ADHD, and ADD has become an outdated term that is no longer recognized by the medical community or the American Psychiatric Association . However, adults who became familiar with attention deficit disorders before 1994 may still use the older acronym.
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How To Prepare For A Doctors Appointment
It is important to discuss a possible ADHD diagnosis with a doctor. Other disorders may have symptoms that overlap or are similar, and doctors should rule these out before diagnosing ADHD.
There could also be other disorders that occur along with ADHD. When more than one diagnosis occurs at the same time, these are called concurrent diagnoses.
Other Conditions With Similar Symptoms
The behaviors must also not be due to another disorder.
Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and dissociative disorders can all show similar symptoms to ADD or ADHD.
Children with ADHD have a higher risk of other disorders. The estimate that about two-thirds of all children with ADHD have other disorders as well.
A child with ADHD may have behavioral problems, too, including:
- oppositional defiant disorder
- cutting unnecessary tasks out of the weekly program
- finding activities and hobbies that suit their activity levels and interests
- helping them to make and follow a schedule and lists of things to remember
- allowing plenty of time to complete tasks
Other lifestyle measures that can help include:
- eating a balanced, healthful diet
- getting plenty of exercise
- co-ordinating with the school, if the condition affects a child
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