ADHD
Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders of the developmental age (childhood and adolescence).
ADHD affects about 3-5% of children and can persist into adulthood, impairing social, academic, and professional functioning. ADHD begins at an early age. If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, you’ve most likely lived with it since you were a child.
ADHD symptoms can be different during the various stages of your life. What you experience as a child can change when you hit your adulthood.
ADHD in children
In very young children, hyperactivity and impulsivity are the most common symptoms of ADHD. Young children are more likely to be active — even while learning — and this can make action-based ADHD behaviors more obvious than those of inattention.
Children with symptoms related to hyperactivity and impulsiveness may be those that:
fidget
talk nonstop
have difficulty waiting
If your child lives with ADHD, you may feel like they never stop moving. They “go a mile a minute” and may seem like they have endless energy. Symptoms of ADHD in young children may be interpreted as misbehavior if a child is always interrupting or seems impatient.
ADHD in teens
As children grow older, inattentiveness often replaces hyperactivity related to ADHD. They often feel pressure to focus more and show more self-control. This may bring out symptoms of inattention, such as forgetfulness.
Impulsiveness may also influence risky behavior. According to one study teens with ADHD are more likely to be involved in substance use, and those with untreated ADHD also have higher rates of alcohol-related driving accidents, license suspensions, and traffic violations.
ADHD in adults
Living with ADHD as an adult may be very different from living with this condition as a child. You may find your ADHD symptoms become less severe or noticeable once you reach adulthood.
What started off as a need to run around the classroom as a child may now mean you’re easily distracted and forgetful as an adult. Just because your ADHD symptoms as an adult might not be as obvious to those around you doesn’t mean they have less of an impact on your life.
ADHD may affect your outlook on life, your career, and your personal relationships.
Adults living with ADHD often experience more subtle ADHD symptoms, such as:
disorganization
forgetfulness
trouble with time management
procrastination
distraction
impulsive decision making
Causes
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder does not recognize a single specific cause. The origin of the disorder seems to depend, in fact, on the interaction of various environmental, social, behavioral, biochemical and genetic factors.
In the etiology of ADHD, in particular, the expression of some genes that regulate the level of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitters seems to be involved. These alterations mainly affect the functions carried out by specific areas of the brain, which regulate attention. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tends to recur within the same family and often occurs in association with other behavioral or conduct disorders.
Environmental factors include cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse during pregnancy, low neonatal weight (or premature birth) and neurological damage after obstetric or head trauma. An increased risk of developing ADHD can also depend on congenital infections and exposure to paints, pesticides, lead and certain food additives (dyes and preservatives).
Diagnosis
ADHD emerges in childhood, so getting a diagnosis as an adult may come as a surprise.
This doesn’t mean you suddenly developed ADHD, but it does mean early symptoms likely went unnoticed.
Not all children have obvious behaviors related to hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Some children are quieter and may experience more symptoms of inattentiveness. As a parent or supervising adult, noticing inattention in a preschooler may not be as easy as noticing excessive talking or boundless energy.
Now, as an adult, you might be wondering if your feelings of restlessness and absentmindedness are something more than stress.
A licensed mental health professional can help you determine if symptoms you’re experiencing may be ADHD. While there’s no single test to determine if you’re living with adult ADHD, a series of questions can help explore your symptoms.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide used by professionals to help diagnose mental health conditions, sets guidelines for adult ADHD diagnosis.
To be diagnosed with inattention type ADHD, you must experience 6 or more of the following symptoms for 6 months or longer:
You have a hard time paying close attention to details.
You find it difficult to stick with or finish a task.
It’s hard to listen or pay attention (it may seem like your “head is in the clouds”).
You have trouble following instructions.
It’s challenging to stay organized or manage your time.
You often avoid tasks that require a lot of focus or mental effort.
You lose things frequently.
You’re easily distracted by your surroundings or thoughts.
You’re forgetful.
In children, inattention may look like having a hard time focusing on schoolwork and listening to lessons or instructions, or forgetting to do homework.
In adults, inattention can look like trouble finishing work tasks on time, keeping up with bills, or getting organized.
Some people with ADHD have symptoms that center around hyperactivity and impulsivity.
As with inattention symptoms, you must experience at least 6 of these symptoms over a 6-month period for hyperactive-impulsive type:
You often fidget or have a strong need to keep moving.
It’s difficult for you to stay seated or sit still, especially when you’re expected to (like in a classroom or workplace setting).
You’re restless.
It’s hard to stay quiet in situations where it’s necessary.
You talk more frequently than others or speak without thinking.
You find it difficult to wait.
You have a tendency to interrupt others or find it difficult to take turns in a conversation.
In kids, hyperactivity and impulsivity may look like leaving their seat in the middle of a classroom lecture, or shouting out an answer before being called on.
An adult with these symptoms may find it difficult to sit still during work meetings, interrupt others when they’re speaking, or always appear “on the go” and restless.
To receive an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, you must experience symptoms:
before age 12
that show up in at least two settings: home, work, school, or other activities
that aren’t due to other mental health conditions like anxiety disorders or depression
that can’t be better explained by an underlying health condition such as a thyroid condition
ADHD may share symptoms with other health conditions. Your doctor can help you rule out physical and mental conditions, such as thyroid problems, depression, or anxiety disorders. You don’t have to feel like ADHD controls your life. Understanding the condition and seeking care from a trusted professional can help make a difference.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a chronic condition that can be addressed with different approaches, such as medication, psychotherapy, education, lifestyle changes, or a combination of them.
The goal of these interventions is to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve the dysfunctions that the condition entails. The ideal treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder takes place on several fronts, involving not only the patient himself, but also school and family.
Although the picture may improve over time, it is important to intervene early to prevent the development of persistent affective-relational deficits, conduct disorders or learning delays.
Behavioral and psychological therapies
The treatment of ADHD is based on behavioral and psycho-educational therapies.
These interventions include, for example, maintaining a daily schedule, setting small achievable goals, and maintaining concentration by minimizing distractions and rewarding positive behavior. These strategies can be applied both by parents and by teachers who are included in the therapeutic path. The treatment aims to reduce, therefore, the dysfunctional behaviors of the child with ADHD.
Drug treatment
In some cases, behavioral therapies can be associated with the use of specific drugs. It should be noted, however, that these medicines allow you to control the symptoms of ADHD, as long as they are taken, but they do not cure the disease. In addition, their use is not recommended for preschoolers, as the long-term effects of this treatment are not known.