| Susan, an administrative assistant and mother, feels | | | | ADD/ADHD Symptom Reference |
| overwhelmed with her responsibilities at work and | | | | Often, adults have symptoms of both ADD and |
| home. At work, she finds it nearly impossible to focus | | | | ADHD. By examining Attention Deficit Disorder |
| her thoughts. Her desk is a mess; her papers and | | | | Symptoms, it becomes easier to identify if a treatment |
| projects lie about in total disorganization. She | | | | plan may be necessary. |
| constantly fidgets and taps her foot when she is sitting | | | | ADD Symptoms and/or ADHD symptoms:fidgeting |
| at her desk. Often, she misses deadlines because she | | | | with hands or feet difficulty remaining seatedbeing |
| finds it difficult to complete her assignments. She is | | | | easily distracted by extraneous stimulidifficulty awaiting |
| constantly losing important pieces of information and | | | | turn in games or group activitiesblurting out answers |
| she has been reprimanded by her boss about her | | | | before questions are completeddifficulty in following |
| performance. At home, Susan has trouble keeping up | | | | instructionsdifficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play |
| with the needs of her husband and children. She finds it | | | | activitiesshifting from one incomplete task to |
| difficult to remember the dates and times of her | | | | anothertalking excessivelyinterrupting or intruding on |
| children's activities. She forgets to complete simple | | | | othersnot listening to what is being saidforgetting things |
| tasks like paying the electric bill or picking up the | | | | necessary for tasks or activitiesengaging in physically |
| laundry. She is constantly losing her keys and her | | | | dangerous activities without considering possible |
| purse. Her family feels that she never listens to them | | | | consequences |
| because she often appears so unfocused. Her | | | | The ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and |
| behavior has caused her family to feel distant from | | | | ADHD are further broken into three specific |
| her. | | | | categories, each with a specific clinical presentation |
| Susan has Adult Attention Deficit Disorder or (Adult | | | | that can better describe behavior. |
| ADD). Adult ADD symptoms are similar, but not | | | | Types of ADD / ADHD |
| exactly the same, to those seen in children. When | | | | These ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder |
| exhibited in children, symptoms of Attention Deficit | | | | and ADHD categories are Inattentive Type (classic |
| Disorder include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder), Hyperactive/Impulsive Type |
| In adults, the element of hyperactivity often diminishes | | | | (classic Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and |
| and is replaced by restlessness or fidgeting. Until the | | | | Combined Type (a combination of inattentive and |
| 1970s, it was believed that Attention Deficit Disorder | | | | hyperactive). |
| was strictly a childhood disorder, and that children | | | | Inattention ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit |
| outgrew it in adolescence. Only gradually was it | | | | Disorder:fails to give close attention to detailsmakes |
| realized that while the hyperactivity component may | | | | careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other |
| disappear, the attention and impulsive aspects can | | | | activitieshas difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or |
| persist into adulthood. By understanding what ADD is, | | | | activitiesbecomes easily distracted by irrelevant sights, |
| one can understand how to begin treating it. | | | | sounds and extraneous stimulidoes not seem to listen |
| The symptoms of Adult ADD interfere with success | | | | when spoken to directlydoes not follow through on |
| at work, home, and in social settings. Many adults do | | | | instructions and fails to finishschoolwork, chores, or |
| not realize that they have Adult ADD until their own | | | | duties in the workplacehas difficulty organizing tasks |
| child is diagnosed with the disorder. Often, adults realize | | | | and activitiesavoids tasks, such as schoolwork or |
| that what they are experiencing is a pattern of | | | | homework, which requiresustained mental effortloses |
| problems they have faced since childhood. They are | | | | things necessary for tasks or activities, like |
| relieved that there is a name for the frustration they | | | | schoolassignments, pencils, books, or toolsis forgetful in |
| have been feeling all of their lives, and that there are | | | | daily activitiesrarely follows instructions carefully and |
| therapies and treatments designed to help them cope | | | | completely |
| with Attention Deficit Disorder. | | | | People with ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit |
| What does ADHD feel like? | | | | Disorder who are inattentive display difficulty keeping |
| Patrick, a real estate agent, often feels restless. His | | | | their mind on any one thing. They may get bored easily |
| mind is always racing with thoughts of the business he | | | | and move from one task to the next, without any |
| needs to take care of. He is constantly on the go, and | | | | completion. Organizing and completing a task proves |
| he feels incapable of relaxation. He juggles several | | | | troublesome, though they may give undivided and |
| projects at once, though he rarely has the focus to | | | | effortless attention to activities and topics they enjoy. |
| complete tasks on time. He finds it difficult to sit still. At | | | | People with ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit |
| his desk, he constantly taps his pencil and shakes his | | | | Disorder often find that focusing deliberate, conscious |
| leg. As a child, he was called hyperactive, and he had | | | | attention to learning something new is extremely |
| difficulty concentrating in school. | | | | difficult. |
| Patrick has adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | Hyperactivity/Impulsive ADHD symptoms of Attention |
| Disorder. Adult ADHD possesses many of the same | | | | Deficit Disorder:fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in |
| characteristics as adult ADD (difficulty concentrating, | | | | seatruns about excessively in situations in where it is |
| disorganization, and impulsivity) with the addition of | | | | inappropriatehas difficulty acting quietly in leisure |
| hyperactivity. Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | activitiesis often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven |
| Disorder often have a compulsion to stay busy and on | | | | by a motor"talks excessivelyblurts out answers before |
| the go. They may find that they can't seem to relax or | | | | hearing the entire questioninterrupts or intrudes on |
| slow down their thoughts. They may also have | | | | othersfeels and acts restless |
| difficulty sleeping. | | | | Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show! |
| Like adults who have been diagnosed with adult ADD, | | | | THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY! |
| those diagnosed with adult ADHD often experience a | | | | With Much Love, |
| sense of relief that what they have been experiencing | | | | Arthur Buchanan |
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| compilation of adult ADHD information can provide | | | | Out of Darkness & Into the Light |
| individuals with the data they need to begin a | | | | 43 Oakwood Ave. |
| treatment plan and begin feeling better. | | | | |