ADHD/ADD
WHAT IS ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER?
ADHD/ADD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder. These are quite common disorders and have a critical impact on a person’s life. Hence, it is important that those with these disorders get the right kind of support.
A neurodevelopmental disorder, ADHD/ADD is identified when an individual particularly shows a lack of attention span, engages in activities incompatible with their age, takes actions regardless of their consequences, or struggles with emotional regulation. The disorder cannot be linked to trauma or specific to environmental settings as it appears in patients who’re below 12 years of age, prevails for at least 6 months, and patients can have similar reactions in at least two different environments, for instance at school and home. The symptoms of ADHD/ADD can result in difficulty in paying attention at school or work. However, data shows that even though many children with ADHD/ADD will stop showing symptoms on reaching adulthood, around 50% of these cases keep showing symptoms even in their adult years.
The effect of ADHD/ADD on an individual can be quite significant and hence, needs to be attended to with proper diagnosis and treatment. It is important to have an accurate assessment of the disorders both in children and adults. This guides parents, teachers or partners to understand the condition adequately and act appropriately. Clear diagnosis helps in deciding learning strategies for ADHD/ADD patients, schools and colleges can parallely make special provisions for these patients like extending exam time or support with special learning processes.
Could You Have ADHD? You may have heard of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as a childhood disorder, but ADHD is also common in adults - and like in children, those with the disorder tend to experience a variety of problems that can affect their daily lives, from difficulty in sitting still to concentration issues.
Since many behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with ADHD are also related to other conditions, there is a strict criteria that must be addressed before a person is diagnosed. They must particularly show few symptoms persistently before the age of six. Additionally, because research on ADHD is relatively new, many adults are left undiagnosed as children and only eventually begin to get the help they need when they seek help on their own with problems that affect their daily lives.
What Does ADHD in adulthood Look Like? Many adults with ADHD are not aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger.
Adult ADHD symptoms may include:
Impulsiveness
Disorganization and problems prioritizing
Poor time management skills
Problems focusing on a task
Trouble multitasking
Excessive activity or restlessness
Poor planning
Low frustration tolerance
Frequent mood swings
Problems following through and completing tasks
Hot temper
Trouble coping with stress
What does ADHD in childhood look like?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a condition that makes it unusually difficult for children to concentrate, pay attention, sit still, follow directions, and control impulsive behavior. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder While all young children are at times distractible, restless, and oblivious to parents’ and teachers’ instructions, kids with ADHD behave this way much more often than other children their age. And their inability to settle down, focus, and follow through on tasks in age-appropriate ways makes it very hard for them to do what is expected of them at school. It can also lead to conflict at home and difficulty getting along with peers.
Symptoms of ADHD are divided into two groups: inattentive behaviors and hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.
Inattentive symptoms of ADHD:
Makes careless mistakesIs easily distracted
Is easily distracted
Does not seem to be listening when spoken to directly
Has difficulty following instructions
Has trouble organizing
Avoids or dislikes sustained efforts
forgetful, always losing things
Hyperactive and impulsive behaviors:
Fidgeting or squirming, trouble staying in one place or waiting his turn
Excessive running and climbing
Trouble playing quietly
Extreme impatience
Always seems to be “on the go” or “driven by a motor”
Excessive talking or interrupting, blurting out answers
Some children exhibit only the first group ADHD of symptoms, and some exhibit only the latter. But the majority of those with an ADHD diagnosis have a combination of both, which can make it very difficult for them to function in school and other activities and can create a lot of conflict at home.
What Is Involved In An ADHD/ADD Assessment/Test? For further information regarding ADHD/ADD assessments please refer to the ADHD tab under Assessments.