ADHD/ADD Folks

[Nat]

DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD
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A.Either (1) or (2):

1.Six (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Inattention

a.Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work or other activities
b.Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
c.Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
d.Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)
e.Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
f.Often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
g.Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books or tools)
h.Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
i.Is often forgetful in daily activities

2.Six (or more) of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Hyperactivity

a.Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
b.Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
c.Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
d.Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
e.Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor"
f.Often talks excessively

Impulsivity

g.Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
h.Often has difficulty awaiting turn
i.Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)
B.Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years.
C.Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g., at school [or work] and at home).
D.There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning.

[Nat]

Utah Criteria for ADHD in Adults --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Childhood history consistent with ADHD
II. Adult symptoms
Hyperactivity and poor concentration
Two of the following:
Affective lability
Hot temper
Inability to complete tasks and disorganization
Stress intolerance
Impulsivity

[Nat]

Some children with ADHD continue to have it as adults. And many adults who have the disorder don't know it. They may feel that it is impossible to get organized, stick to a job, or remember and keep appointments. Daily tasks such as getting up in the morning, preparing to leave the house for work, arriving at work on time, and being productive on the job can be especially challenging for adults with ADHD.

These adults may have a history of failure at school, problems at work, or difficult or failed relationships. Many have had multiple traffic accidents. Like teens, adults with ADHD may seem restless and may try to do several things at once, most of them unsuccessfully. They also tend to prefer "quick fixes," rather than taking the steps needed to achieve greater rewards.

[atomiczombie]

I have ADD but not ADHD.

[Nat]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I have ADD but not ADHD.

I have the inattentive type.

The only hyper symptoms I have are racing thoughts going off in many directions at one time as well as fast talking and fidgeting. I have low amounts of physical energy and was never physically hyper.

[Nat]

[Nat]

[Nat]

Keeping in mind that ADHD is unique in each individual, it can be even more difficult to determine symptoms of ADHD in adults. However, the list below will provide a guideline for how symptoms manifest themselves in adults with ADHD. (Please note that this should not be used for diagnostic purposes, if you feel that you may have ADHD, please discuss your concerns with your physician or a medical professional that is qualified to make a diagnosis.)

Inattention can appear in many different ways:

· May lose or misplace items such as keys, important papers, phone numbers and other things used on a daily basis. This often occurs on a regular basis

· Often forgetful, may consistently forget to take out the trash, may forget to pick up the children from activities, may forget to complete tasks, even after instructions have been given

· Beginning, but not completing tasks

· Often distracted, for example, may begin a task such as mowing the grass, but hear the phone ring, go inside, get a drink, pay attention to what is on television, talk with your children and completely forget to finish mowing the lawn until hours later

· May have difficulty following conversations. May be easily distracted and miss important details of conversations

· Lacks self motivation, even if the project sounds like something you would like to complete

· Often loses track of time or misjudges how much time has passed. Can be difficult to follow a timed schedule

· Your mind wanders easily, even if someone is speaking to you or you should be completing a task or project

Hyperactivity in children can be easy to spot. Children can’t sit still for even a few moments or they are constantly in motion. They may act as if driven by a motor and often jump or bounce around the room

· Needs constant motion, may tap feet, play with a pencil, doodle or fidget

· Easily bored. May move from job to job because you become bored once you have learned the job, may not complete projects because you become bored after a short time. You need be intensely interested in something for it to hold your interest

· Although you can sit still, you feel restless after just a few minutes of inactivity. You feel the need to get up, walk around the room or do something

· Active, risky or fast paced activities are more interesting and more apt to hold your interest

Impulsiveness is reacting without thinking first. Children that are impulsive might yell an answer out at school without raising their hand or waiting for their turn. Children may jump from a play set before thinking of the consequences. Adults with ADHD can also be impulsive:

· Consistently interrupts others while talking or answering a question before it has been completed

· Enters conversations while others are still talking

[Nat]

[Mar]

Hi Nat,

Thank you for posting all of this useful information. I have never been diagnosed but it is clear to me I suffer from it because I experience most of the symptoms almost religiously. Luckily for me I am even tempered and do not experience the difficulty controlling anger part..and I have never been an addict to any drugs or alcohol either, but so much other things on the list fit.

[Nat]

Originally Posted by Mar

Hi Nat,

Thank you for posting all of this useful information. I have never been diagnosed but it is clear to me I suffer from it because I experience most of the symptoms almost religiously. Luckily for me I am even tempered and do not experience the difficulty controlling anger part..and I have never been an addict to any drugs or alcohol either, but so much other things on the list fit.

Hi Mar Thanks for posting! I think there are definitely people without diagnosis who live with this.

I've heard the statistic that 50% of people with ADD/ADHD have at some point struggled with alcohol or drug abuse due to high levels of impulsivity and low levels of inhibition. Although I've gone through phases with partying (especially when I first came out), I have thankfully not become addicted to drugs or alcohol. I don't think my relationship with alcohol is perfect, but it's more a see it/want it thing. It's out of sight, out of mind in my regular life. However, I do have addictive behaviors - compulsive overeating, internetting, spending money, some level of hoarding behaviors, etc. Well, and I finally became addicted to cigarettes last year, after socially smoking without being addicted since I was 13. :/ But chemical addictions don't seem to be something my body submits to easily - with the cigs it took 19 years of flirting with the possibility.