ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a disorder that affects attention and behavior.

It is characterized by appearance in childhood, inability to endure in activities which require concentration, the tendency to quickly switch from one action to another without finishing the first, disorganization, and bad behavior control.

ADHD symptoms create a pattern of inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity – impulsivity which can make everyday functioning, as well as the completion of natural developmental processes in children, difficult.

These children often find themselves having problems with authority, not because of their purposeful disobedience, but because of their inattentiveness and impulsivity. Because of this they can have bad relationships with grownups, be they teachers or parents, and even their peers, which can lead to low self-esteem and social isolation.

It is not uncommon for these children to have worse cognitive development, as well as specific lagging behind in motor and language development.

ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in children, it most often appears in the age range from 3 – 4 years old. It is often recognized only when children start school and are presented with structured activities with which they have difficulties. It can continue into adolescence and adulthood.

How is ADHD different from normal inattentiveness?

It is normal for people to have difficulties with attention in situations of boredom or exhaustion, professionals try to understand the impact of the symptoms on everyday functioning, in comparison to what is expected at the certain developmental stage.

What is ADD?

ADD (attention deficit disorder) is the old name for ADHD, the name was changed to include the concept of hyperactivity, but the old term is often used as a synonym for ADHD.

Typical ADHD symptoms:

ADHD has two wide categories of symptoms, inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

Inattention symptoms:

-    Easily distracted by external stimuli

-    Simple mistakes in schoolwork, career or other activities

-   Difficulty in maintaining concentration in tasks, play, conversation, reading…

-   Seems absentminded when being talked to directly

-   Difficulty following instructions, easily starting, but difficulty in completing tasks

-   Difficulty in organizing activities, things, time

-   Avoiding tasks which require mental effort

-   Often losing things

Symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity:

-   Difficulty in sitting still, jittery, running or climbing in inappropriate situations, often leaving one’s place when expected to sit still for prolonged periods of time

-   Difficulty in slower activities

-   Talks too much

-   Seems always ready for movement or action

-   Gives answers before allowing the question to finish

-   Interrupts and bothers others

-   Difficulty in waiting and patience

-   Often daydreaming

Types of ADHD:

Three types of ADHD can be identified according to which types of symptoms are dominant:

Dominant inattentive symptoms

Dominant hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms

Combined type

The combined type is a combination of both previously mentioned types and is the most prevalent, while the hyperactivity/impulsivity type is the rarest.

Gender differences:

Boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. This difference isn’t necessarily due to the disorder being more prevalent in males, but rather probably because of the ways it manifests in the two sexes.

Research shows that it is more probable that girls will manifest symptoms of inattention while boys will manifest symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity. Gender roles can also have a significant influence over the ways in which ADHD manifests itself, it is easier to spot and recognize more physical and behavioral symptoms in boys while symptoms of inattention are often overlooked with girls.

Inability to recognize symptoms for what they are can often lead to bad self-esteem and present a serious risk in the later formation of other mental disorders such as depression and eating disorders.

ADHD in adults:

The symptoms of ADHD tend to change with age:

-   Difficulty with starting and finishing tasks

-   Difficulty with directing and regulating attention

-   Difficulty with organization

-   Uneasiness, tension

-   Often interrupting

-   Anger issues

-   Procrastination

-   Low threshold of frustration tolerance

-   Difficulty with concentration while reading

People with ADHD can also have hyperfocus, this isn’t an official symptom but can be a relevant indicator. Hyperfocus is highly focused attention that lasts a longer time in which the awareness of everything else is lost, except for the thing that is being focused on. It is possible for everybody to experience this state, but research suggests that it tends to be easier for people with ADHD.

Adults with ADHD, especially undiagnosed or untreated, can suffer multiple problems in their everyday lives, social, academic, career and even drug abuse.

Causes of ADHD:

The causes of ADHD aren’t completely clear, but expert’s hypothesis currently is that the disorder is highly genetically predisposed.

Other possible causes and risk factors are brain lesions, trauma, stress, exposure to toxins like lead which can influence the development of the central nervous system, use of alcohol and tobacco in pregnancy, as well as early birth.

Treating ADHD:

For children suffering from ADHD there isn’t one specific, clear solution.

Each case is specific and depends upon several factors, what is understood is that the influence of ADHD can be regulated through a combination of support in education, counseling, and support to both parents and children with behavioral therapy, and pharmacotherapy if needed. Different types of psychotherapy can have a significant role in regulating the problems caused by ADHD, the ones most often recommended are cognitive and cognitive behavioral therapy. An important factor for choice of therapy is the age of the child.

Behavioral therapy can include parental training and can teach children to monitor certain negative behaviors and adequately change them. The focus of the method is on concrete behavioral problems and their regulation.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy which is short – termed, focused on clear goals and deals with changing negative patterns of thought and behavior, the regulation of emotional processes, and development of skills which help overcome (ADHD) symptoms.

Pharmacotherapy is prescribed by doctors and taken under their counsel, the main categories in which ADHD medicine falls are stimulants and non – stimulants. They are used for treating symptoms in adults and older children, but difficulties with career, social life and low self-esteem created by years of struggle with difficult symptoms can persist.

Psychotherapy helps people with ADHD to learn to look at their state differently, motivate and organize themselves so that they can face the difficulties presented by this disorder.

Changes in lifestyle can also have significant effects, an appropriate amount of sleep, regular physical activity and exercise, a healthy diet and supplements such as iron, magnesium and zinc can all have positive effects on ADHD symptoms.

Written by: Bachelor of Psychology, Aleksa Holcer  

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*This text is intended solely for informational purposes. In case of any symptoms, it is recommended to seek advice from your doctor or qualified healthcare professional.*

*Image taken from the website: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-in-purple-shirt-playing-on-mobile-phone-8617802/*