| Attention deficit disorder or ADD is primarily a | | | | Diagnosing the problem correctly can significantly |
| childhood disorder that can be outgrown by a child as | | | | relieve an ADD affected person of all the doubts he |
| he or she reaches adolescence, right? Wrong! ADD | | | | or she may be having regarding his or her own |
| can indeed continue well into adulthood and cause | | | | personality. He or she can now understand him or |
| havoc in an adult person's life! | | | | herself better and do something about it. |
| It is estimated that at least 30 to 70% of all the children | | | | Treating ADD in Adults - There are three main |
| who suffered from ADD during their early childhood | | | | treatments for ADD in adults - medications, education |
| years will still show some of the symptoms of the | | | | and psychotherapy. Let us discuss each of these |
| disorder well into their adult years. That figure | | | | treatments briefly. |
| represents a significant portion of the society since it is | | | | Medications - Stimulant medications are often used for |
| an established fact that at least 3 to 5% of all children | | | | adult sufferers of ADD. These medications regulate |
| (an astounding 2 million children in the United States | | | | the release of the hormonal neurotransmitters |
| alone) are affected with ADD! | | | | norepinephrine and dopamine. |
| The Symptoms of Adult ADD - How do you know if | | | | Antidepressants are also used in treating ADD in |
| you might be afflicted with ADD? Well, this is not going | | | | adults. Next to stimulants, they are considered the next |
| to be an easy task! Almost all adults tend to exhibit | | | | effective medications in addressing these problems. |
| some symptoms of ADD from time to time. Among | | | | Education - Nobody can understand and provide the |
| these symptoms are impulsivity, distractibility, | | | | needs of an ADD affected person better than himself. |
| restlessness, inattentiveness, difficulty in staying and | | | | As such, it is important that he or she must succeed |
| completing a task, irritability and a marked difficulty in | | | | on his or her own. To do this, the ADD sufferer must |
| falling asleep and waking up. While these may be | | | | strive to learn as much as he/she can about the |
| considered normal behaviors or a result of some other | | | | disorder. Working with a professional coach to gain |
| physical or emotional problems, an excessive | | | | mastery of some essential life tools necessary in |
| manifestation of these symptoms may indicate the | | | | learning how to establish a daily routine and putting his |
| presence of the disorder. And when these symptoms | | | | her life in order would also do him/her good. Date |
| begin to interfere seriously with a person's daily living, | | | | books, to-do lists, reminder notes and a large calendar |
| ADD can be considered as the most likely suspect. | | | | that lists his/her daily schedules are some great tools |
| Diagnosing ADD - Oftentimes, adults discover that | | | | that can be used by an ADD affected person. |
| they are afflicted with the disorder by sheer accident. | | | | Psychotherapy - Working with a therapist can |
| Only when his or her child is diagnosed with ADD | | | | definitely improve the way an ADD affected person |
| would the adult parent recognize that he or she also | | | | looks at himself. Minor improvements like becoming |
| exhibits the same symptoms as manifested by the | | | | less impulsive and more organized can make the ADD |
| child. Only then would he (or she) recognize what must | | | | affected person appreciate his or her new self more |
| be going on inside him (or her). | | | | fully. |
| A qualified clinician must diagnose Adult ADD - An | | | | Hopefully, with the right treatment and sheer |
| accurate diagnosis entails an in-depth study of the | | | | determination, ADD affected persons will begin to see |
| person's childhood behavior, a thorough physical | | | | themselves in a more positive light! |
| examination and psychological testing. | | | | |