Tips from Effective Counseling.org

By: Charles H Kuhn 03/30/2012

What is Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?

Adult ADD is what we call any of several syndromes that interfere with adults' psychological functions such as planning, managing time and tasks, and making decisions. People with this problem may experience difficulty in the following activities:

avoiding distractions
remembering and organizing information and things
starting and finishing tasks
being on time
set and ordering priorities
acting and speaking out inappropriately

What to do if You Think You Have ADD.

ADD is believed to be associated with abnormalities in various parts of the brain, especially the frontal lobes. At the present time, there is no definitive test for the disorder. The diagnosis is based on a thorough assessment of a person's present and past functioning and, if possible, the observations of a friend or relative who has observed the individual's daily behavior. The severity of the symptoms and their impact on the patient's life are important factors to consider in deciding whether to make a diagnosis. Psychological testing can sometimes be helpful in identifying learning problems that may need special attention. Tests should never be used as the sole basis for making the diagnosis since some people with ADD can concentrate long enough to do well on tests or an interview but still have disabling ADD symptoms. On the other hand, symptom questionnaires filled out by the patient or someone who knows the patient well can be useful for rapidly determining and monitoring over time the most significant areas of dysfunction.

Medication has been found to be effective for about 75% of adults with ADD in reducing or eliminating many symptoms of the disorder. Because other disorders may resemble ADD, it is important that a careful assessment be carried out by an experienced clinician before treatment is undertaken.

For more on this subject go to http://effective-counseling.com/AADD.aspx