Symptoms of ADD/ADHD Essay -- Disease, Disorders

You know that person; the one that can’t stay on subject, the one who will be talking then all of a sudden the conversation goes off in a totally different direction, like a squirrel searching for nuts that keeps dropping the one it is carrying because something else caught its eye. Chaotic, frazzled, impulsive, unorganized, daydreamer, procrastinator, inattentive, goof off and lazy are just a few descriptions of an adult that has Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). At one time ADD/ADHD was thought of as just childhood complications that did not affect adults, but since there is no cure for ADD/ADHD, adults are affected also. Most adults that have ADD/ADHD were not diagnosed with it as children, because ADD/ADHD wasn’t recognized except by a very few people that were aware of it at the time (Smith and Segal, 2012). Instead as children they were labeled as lazy, trouble makers, day dreamers and other labels and they grew into adults with those same labels and tendencies. They may have learned to adjust during the teen years but as they became adults and responsibilities and demands on their time grew, the challenges of dealing with ADD/ADHD also grew. ADD/ADHD affects 4-5 percent of all adults, more than 11 million in the United States (Barkley). When not diagnosed and treated it can impact all areas of life including work, home and social relationships. With treatment adults, and children, with ADD/ADHD can learn to compensate and overcome the symptoms and challenges they face with ADD/ADHD on a daily basis to lead productive lives. Symptoms of ADD/ADDHD aren’t the same in adults as in children and do not present themselves the same in each individual. Some common adult symptoms of A... ...d Treatment. Retrieved from www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult symptoms.htm (March 20,2012) Mayo Clinic Staff, (January 8, 2010). Adult ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)- Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of adult ADHD. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adult-adhd/ds01161 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In Adults Adult ADHD- a Misunderstood Potential/Symptoms/Treatment/Self Help Adult ADHD copyright 2012 Retrieved from http://www.adultadhd.net (March 20, 2012) Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD March 1, 2010 for Webmd ADHD in Adults: Symptoms, Statsitics, Causes, Types, Treatments, and More Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: ADHD in Adults Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-adults (March 20, 2012)