ADD Overview V: Red Flag Warnings

Thursday, August 25, 2011 2 Comments

CLICK HERE FOR the first article in this series

ADD/ADHD/EFD
Red Flags

by Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CTP, CMC, ACT, MCC, SCAC
Final article in a 5-Part Series

NOTE: This is NOT an “Am I dealing with ADD/HD?” list.

These items are not the same thing as diagnostic criteria.

HOWEVER, if you are wondering if ADD or ADHD might be a factor in some of your life-long struggles (or those of a loved one), take a look at this list.

Keep in mind: an instance or three is NOT necessarily an indication of a problem, or a reason to suspect that your preferences (or those of a loved one) are maladaptive.

The presence of more than a few of the Red Flags, or a great many examples of one or more of the items below is, however, a signal to you that looking more closely at the possibility of an ADD/ADHD or EFD diagnosis might be warranted.

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I use “ADD” to include AD/HD etc. Check out What’s in a Name for why.
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The Articles of the ADD Overview series:

ADD Overview 101
ADD Overview II: Identifying Traits
ADD Overview III: Associated Features
ADD Overview IV: Hyperarousal
ADD Overview V: Red Flag Warnings
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Commonly seen with those diagnosed with ADD

Family history of any or all of the following

• ADD/ADHD/MBD/HRC etc. in childhood
(even diagnosed retroactively)
• alcoholism
• drug abuse
• eating disorders
• sensory defensiveness
• anti-social personality
• conduct disorder

“RED FLAGS” — STRONG INDICATORS OF ADD

Hyperactivity/”Fidgetiness”

Chronic “spaciness” and/or mind wandering

Chronic Impulsivity – lack of forethought

Extreme lack of patience

Unusually tactless, rude or socially inappropriate

Chronic lack of follow-through – LOTS of unfinished projects, missed deadlines

A higher than normal number of unpaid parking tickets, overdue library books, clothing with tags (meant for a store return that never happened)

Low level of interpersonal “follow-through” — multiple marriages, large number of serial relationships, juggling a number of relationships at a time, infidelity

Multiple job changes, repeatedly switching field of study or change of major in college

Frequent “firings” or serial job losses

Unexplained inattention for anything tedious or boring

Unexplained negativity (common)

Unexplained irritability (very common) – and/or

Episodic Explosiveness/RAGE

Dysthymia (chronic low-grade depression) — or persistent low-grade “anxiety”

Betwetting after age 6, sometimes through adolescence (especially in males)

Waking extremely slowly in the morning (91%)

Difficulty falling asleep at night (73%)

Dyslexia — “verbal” and/or spatial (55%)

Substance Abuse
(Among adult substance abusers, over 70% are estimated to have ADD — Wilens)

A higher than normal number of traffic accidents or speeding tickets (especially unpaid speeding tickets)

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Other Related Articles on ADDandSoMuchMore.com

Articles in the Executive Functioning series:

Articles in the Differential Diagnosis series:

Other Related articles ’round the ‘net

ADHD and Poor Motor Skills (handtutorblog.wordpress.com)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder… (mineself.wordpress.com)

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Filed under A1c. Dances with Diagnosis, ADD | ADHD | Attention Deficit Disorder, H. Brain Based Coaching/Training Tagged with ADD implications, Attention, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Brain-based, explanation, Hyperactivity, Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, New Diagnosis, Substance abuse

About Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC
Award-winning ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching field co-founder; [life] Coaching pioneer -- Neurodiversity Advocate, Coach, Mentor & Poster Girl -- Multi-Certified -- 25 years working with EFD [Executive Functioning disorders] and struggles in hundreds of people from all walks of life. I developed and delivered the world's first ADD-specific coach training curriculum: multi-year, brain-based, and ICF Certification tracked. In addition to my expertise in ADD/EF Systems Development Coaching, I am known for training and mentoring globally well-informed ADD Coach LEADERS with the vision to innovate, many of the most visible, knowledgeable and successful ADD Coaches in the field today (several of whom now deliver highly visible ADD coach trainings themselves). For almost a decade, I personally sponsored and facilitated seven monthly, virtual and global, no-charge support and information groups The ADD Hours™ - including The ADD Expert Speakers Series, hosting well-known ADD Professionals who were generous with their information and expertise, joining me in my belief that "It takes a village to educate a world." I am committed to being a thorn in the side of ADD-ignorance in service of changing the way neurodiversity is thought about and treated - seeing "a world that works for everyone" in my lifetime. Get in touch when you're ready to have a life that works BECAUSE of who you are, building on strengths to step off that frustrating treadmill "when 'wanting to' just doesn't get it DONE!"