What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
If you have a child who struggles with attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, he or she might have ADHD. However, there are several other possible reasons for your child’s behavior.
ADHD can be diagnosed in children as young as six years old. Treatment may include medication, behavioral therapy and parent training.
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD
The signs and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) vary from person to person. They may include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
In children, inattentive symptoms look like trouble focusing on schoolwork or other activities, problems paying attention to details, and careless mistakes. They also may have problems staying seated or getting organized.
Adults with ADHD may have a hard time staying focused on their jobs, remembering their obligations, or finishing work tasks on time. They also may have trouble managing their money, getting organized, or controlling their emotions.
These symptoms can also include hyperactivity and impulsivity, which look like leaving their seat in the middle of a classroom lecture, blurting out answers to questions, or running into the street without looking.
If you have inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, talk to your health care provider about what type of treatment may be right for you. He or she can help you learn to manage your symptoms and keep them under control, so you can get the most out of your life.
People who have ADHD often have a number of other conditions, including learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and conduct disorder. If these conditions coexist with ADHD, they can make it harder for you to get a diagnosis and treat your symptoms.
Types of ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects both children and adults. The condition is a mental health disorder that impacts many different areas of the brain.
The American Psychiatric Association has defined three main types of ADHD in adults. Each type presents with a different set of symptoms.
People with inattentive type ADHD tend to struggle with paying attention for long periods of time. They also have a hard time focusing on tasks or projects.
They may need to take frequent breaks or start new projects that they can’t finish.
These symptoms are usually present before age 12 and interfere with daily life. The DSM-5, the standard reference for diagnosing mental disorders, requires that a person displays at least six of nine major symptoms for the hyperactive/impulsive or inattentive types for at least 6 months to be diagnosed.
The impulsive-hyperactive type of ADHD is the most common form of this disorder. It’s more common in boys than girls. It can cause trouble in school, and people with this type are likely to seek treatment sooner than those who have inattentive-type ADHD.
Causes of ADHD
ADHD is caused by a combination of how your brain works and your environment. No one knows exactly why some people are more likely to develop it than others. However, there are some factors that are thought to be important.
Genetics are a major factor, but environmental factors can also affect the risk of developing ADHD. For example, a mother’s health and habits during pregnancy may play a role in her child’s development of ADHD.
Children who have ADHD are more likely to have a parent who also has the condition. This is called a genetic predisposition.
In addition, some environmental toxins such as lead, tobacco and alcohol during childhood can increase a child’s risk of developing ADHD.
Children with ADHD often have more trouble focusing than other kids their age. This can cause them to have trouble in school and make it difficult for them to meet their academic and social obligations. They also often have impulsive behavior problems that can interfere with relationships with others. These behaviors can include fidgeting, squirming and jumping around, blurting out answers and interrupting others.
How is ADHD Diagnosed?
If you or your child suspect ADHD, talk with a doctor or other healthcare professional. Then, the doctor can make a diagnosis and help you or your child find treatment that works for you or your child.
A medical expert diagnoses ADHD using a range of tests, including questionnaires and psychological testing. These measures can look at working memory, executive functioning (abilities like planning and decision-making), visual and spatial skills, and reasoning abilities.
For a diagnosis to be valid, symptoms must have started before the person was 12 years old and continue for at least 6 months. They must also cause significant problems in more than one setting, such as at home or school.
Most doctors start with an assessment, which may last around one to three hours and is usually done in-person. This will involve a clinical interview and gathering a wide range of information about the patient, such as their history and relationships with friends and family.
For a medical professional to confirm the diagnosis of ADHD, they must use criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5). These guidelines help providers make a diagnosis that is accurate and comprehensive.
Treatsments for ADHD
There are a number of treatments for ADHD. Some of these include medications, behavior therapy, counseling and education services.
Stimulants are the most common medication for treating ADHD. They have been used safely for decades and work by boosting levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. These medicines are also called psychostimulants.
They are often prescribed for children and adolescents with ADHD, but can be used in adults too. Methylphenidate is the most commonly prescribed stimulant, and many people take it as a daily pill.
Methylphenidate comes in a range of forms, including immediate-release (small doses taken 2 to 3 times a day), modified-release (taken once a day) and extended-release (taken continuously). It’s usually given to adults, teenagers and children over the age of 5 with ADHD.
Some stimulant medications can cause tics, or sudden, repetitive movements or sounds, such as eye blinking or throat clearing. These side effects are rare, but they can be very bothersome.
Non-stimulants are another option for treating ADHD. They are typically antidepressants, but healthcare providers may prescribe them alone or in combination with a stimulant to increase effectiveness.
Other non-medication options for treating ADHD include meditation and yoga. These calming therapies can reduce stress and anxiety and can help improve focus and attention.
ADHD in Adults
ADHD in adults is a common condition that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, focus and concentrate. It can also have a negative impact on work performance, social relationships and family life.
Adults with ADHD may have trouble getting and staying organized, completing tasks on time, managing stress and anger, communicating clearly and controlling their impulses. These symptoms often co-occur with other conditions like anxiety or depression.
A professional evaluation is needed to diagnose ADHD and to identify effective treatment options. This evaluation involves a psychiatric professional talking to you about your symptoms and your life history. They may also speak with your spouse or other family members to get a full picture of your situation.
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5) defines a diagnosis of ADHD as having persistent symptoms that were present before age 12 and that have a significant negative impact on multiple areas of your life.
Whether you have the inattentive type of ADHD or the combined hyperactive/impulsive type, there are treatment options that can help you manage your symptoms and feel better. These include medication, behavioral coaching, self-help groups, vocational counseling and educational assistance.
ADHD Medication
ADHD medication can help people with the disorder live better lives. It can reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and other symptoms.
Stimulant medications are the most commonly prescribed ADHD medications, and they are often used along with other therapies. These medicines may include antidepressants, social interventions and behavioral therapy.
These medications work to increase the amount of norepinephrine in the brain, which is deficient in people with ADHD. They also help to slow down reuptake of norepinephrine so more of it gets to the right place in the brain to improve behavior.
Some of the most common stimulant ADHD medications are methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine and lisdexamfetamine (brand name Adderall). These medications come in different forms, including a tablet, liquid and skin patch.
Extended-release (long-acting) medications are the first choice of treatment for children and adults with ADHD. They take effect throughout the day and are usually taken once in the morning or afternoon.
Short-acting (immediate release) medications are available in capsule form and can be swallowed or dissolved in water. They are sometimes referred to as “energy pills” because they can give you a sudden rush of energy that lasts for up to four hours. Taking them after meals can help control this side effect.
This video shows you how to pronounce Vyvanse
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By Mack | Ready to "wear it out loud?” Merch store open, SHOP NOW: | Subscribe: | Record your story @ or our iPhone app for a chance to get animated. Comment, like, share this story.
ADHD stinks! That mostly sums it up for Mack, not completely, but mostly.
It's hard to focus and concentrate, and so at school Mack's grades started falling because she would find herself paying attention to a ton of things that weren't important, or at least that didn't have much to do with what they were studying. For instance, in Math, instead of paying attention to the teacher and the work on the board, she would be transfixed by a tiny crumb sitting on the edge of her desk.
Mack has had ADHD for as long as she can remember, so she figures she's had it since she was born. And, it has also been really hard for as long as she can remember. Sometimes people think she's weird but she's just Mack, a kid with ADHD.
Living with ADHD comes with its own side effects, like depression, and anxiety, and she's been living with those since she was in 4th grade. Now she's in 8th. ADHD treatment also comes with a lot of pills and medications. Mack has been taking as many as five different pills every day for her entire life. That's a lot of medicine.
Now she takes three pills a day: one antidepressant, one medication to help her stay focused, and one pill to help her sleep at night. See, ADHD also sometimes brings on insomnia, which is difficulty either falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early.
Mack has had insomnia since she was in 3rd grade, and at one point it got so bad that she couldn't sleep at all - she stayed awake for four days straight - she kept falling asleep in school, literally passing out from being so tired. One day she passed out during recess and opened her eyes to find all of her friends standing over her, staring at her.
In Mack's opinion, ADHD is one of the hardest conditions to live with that there is. She's still learning to deal with it. It comes with so many side effects, and living with ADHD just makes you really self conscious. People who don't know her probably think she is really weird, especially because when she is feeling really overwhelmed with anxiety she finds she has to find a quiet place, curl up in a tight little ball, and not talk with anyone. And that can go on for up to an hour or two before she starts to feel better.
It's been really tough living with ADHD, and Mack's great hope is that she can learn to manage it and overcome the effects and side effects as an adult. BUT, the one thing Mack knows for sure is that living with ADHD, and fighting to overcome it, has made her a stronger and better person, while at the same time, of course, it also is responsible for the parts of her she could do without.
It's hard for her to explain - Living with ADHD is definitely a burden, but in a weird way it's also a special thing to have - it boosts your creativity and imagination. It has helped to shape who Mack is today and she is more than okay with that! She has ADHD and she's still learning to deal with it.
ADHA is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder. They both relate to the same chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Concentration can be extremely difficult with ADHD and ADD. Diagnosis and treatment from a Doctor are necessary. 11 million people have ADHD.
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