Question by <3: How can you tell if a person has ADD and ADHD?
1. What symptoms would they notice in themselves?
2. What are the differences between ADD and ADHD?
3. What are the treatments and their side effects?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Best answer:

Answer by Killian
Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD tends to focus predominately on children, leaving the ADD adult largely under served. Most of the information presented about Attention Deficit Disorder focuses on children, parenting and school issues. All but one ADHD medication currently on the market achieved FDA approval for adult Attention Deficit Disorder treatment.

Attention Deficit Disorder simply was not in vogue when the ADD adult of today was a child decades ago. While today many express concerns of over diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder in children, many also acknowledge the under diagnosing of adults with Attention Deficit Disorder.

Adults with ADD often realize that they have Attention Deficit Disorder when their own child is diagnosed with Attention Deficit ADD. Looking through the diagnostic test symptom list, the parent often sees similarities in their own present or past behavior.

Yet, the symptom hurdles of Attention Deficit are often the same, whether in a child or an adult. The ADD adult might have trouble with staying on task, staying organized and procrastinating, just as the Attention Deficit Disorder child does. The Attention Deficit Disorder adult might have trouble maintaining relationships and controlling their mood, just like an ADD or ADHD child. The main difference between the ADD adult and child is that the adult with Attention Deficit typically has more sophisticated coping mechanisms.

For the better part, the Attention Deficit Disorder ADD ADHD symptom test outlined for children is about the same for the adult, with the word “work” substituted for “school.” You can also look at the Attention Deficit Disorder test for children and ask yourself if, as a child, you had such symptoms or currently have such Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms.

Below is an adult symptom test with a symptom list unique to the Attention Deficit Disorder adult. Test yourself with this self symptom test, along with the Attention Deficit Disorder symptom test for children. This self symptom test is not a diagnostic test but a source of information for the adult trying to determine if Attention Deficit Disorder might be present in their adult life.

Adult ADD Symptom Test: If you experience 10 or more points on this adult ADD self symptom test, Attention Deficit Disorder is likely present.

* An internal sense of anxiety.
* Impulsive spending habits.
* Frequent distractions during sex.
* Lack of attention to detail.
* Family history of ADD, learning problems, mood disorders or substance abuse problems.
* An attitude of “read the directions when all else fails.”
* Frequent traffic violations. Impulsive job changes.
* Trouble maintaining an organized work and/or home environment.
* Chronically late or always in a hurry.
* Frequently overwhelmed by tasks of daily living.
* Poor financial management and frequent late bills.
* Procrastination.
* Spending excessive time at work due to inefficiencies.
* Inconsistent work performance.
* Nagging sense of underachievement.
* Frequent mood swings.
* Trouble sustaining friendships or intimate relationships.
* A need to seek high stimulation activities.
* Tendency toward exaggerated outbursts.
* Transposing numbers, letters, words.
* Tendency toward being argumentative.
* Addictive personality toward food, alcohol, drugs, work and/or gambling.
* Tendency to worry needlessly and endlessly.
* “Thin-skinned” – having quick or exaggerated responses to real or imagined slights.
* Frequently misplace the car keys, your purse or wallet or other day-to-day items.
* Trouble following the proper channels or chain of commands. ADHD -Adderall Side Effects

The most common side effects are restlessness or tremor; anxiety or nervousness; headache or dizziness; insomnia; dryness of the mouth or an unpleasant taste in the mouth; diarrhea or constipation; or mpotence or changes in sex drive.
Concerta Side Effects

In the clinical studies with patients using CONCERTA®, the most common side effects were headache, stomach pain, sleeplessness, and decreased appetite. Other side effects seen with methylphenidate, the active ingredient in CONCERTA®, include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, nervousness, tics, allergic reactions, increased blood pressure and psychosis (abnormal thinking or hallucinations).
Ritalin Side Effects

Nervousness and insomnia are the most common adverse reactions but are usually controlled by reducing dosage and omitting the drug in the afternoon or evening.

Other reactions include hypersensitivity (including skin rash, urticaria, fever, arthralgia, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme with histopathological findings of necrotizing vasculitis, and thrombocytopenic purpura); anorexia; nausea; dizziness; palpitations; headache; dyskinesia; drowsiness; blood pressure and pulse changes, both up and down; tachycardi

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