What is ADHD?

ADHD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. It can result in alleviated levels of restless and impulsive behaviors, and people with this condition also finds it hard to stay focus on a given task. They might even have trouble sitting still for long.

Though the symptoms of ADHD are more prevalent among children than adults, it is not a disorder exclusive to children. The symptoms of ADHD starts to manifest in childhood. But for some people, these continue through their adolescence and adulthood. The hyperactivity aspect of the condition usually improves over time. The problems of disorganization, poor impulse control, and inattention often last throughout the teenage and adulthood.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of ADHD

The main symptoms of ADHD are difficulty focusing on a given task and feeling restless or hyperactive. These symptoms usually start to occur during childhood and can sometimes persist well beyond the teenage.

We can categorize the behavior that people with ADHD exhibit in three different categories:

• Inattention – Difficulty paying attention
• Hyperactivity – Being overactive
• Impulsivity – Acting without thinking

People with ADHD show a combination of the following symptoms:

• Get distracted by unrelated stimuli or thoughts.
• Forgetful in day to day activities like returning calls, keeping appointments, doing chores, etc.
• Have problems keeping tasks and activities organized.
• Trouble doing things in sequence, keeping things order, managing time, and doing the work in an organized fashion.
• Miss or overlook details, makes careless mistakes.
• Appear to not listening when spoken to directly.
• Have a problem maintaining attention on a task or game.
• Find it difficult to follow conversations, lengthy reading, or lectures.
• Fial to follow instructions.
• Unable to finish work or duties or start new tasks but losing focus quickly.
• Dislike activities require sustained mental efforts, like doing homework or schoolwork, preparing reports, reviewing lengthy papers, and completing forms.
• Lose or forget things, such as phone, wallet, eyeglasses, school supplies, books, tools, paperwork, keys, etc. required to complete a task.

People with hyperactivity and impulsivity can display the following signs:

• Nonstop talking.
• Always on the go, or being constantly in motion.
• Unable to play quietly.
• Interrupt other mid-conversation, or intruding on others in games and activities.
• Constant fidgeting or squirming.
• Unable to sit still.
• Blurt out answers before the completion of a question.
• Have trouble waiting for their turn.
• Finish other people’s sentences.
• Running around and climbing in inappropriate situations.
• Getting up and moving in situations where staying seated is expected, like in the office or classroom.

Though there are some of the signs of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, not everyone who experiences these symptoms have ADHD. Sometimes, conditions like anxiety, depression, and other learning disabilities can also result in similar symptoms. The best way to make sure if you or your child have ADHD is to talk to a healthcare professional and get an official diagnosis. Mental health professionals, such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, primary care providers, or pediatricians, can diagnose ADHD.

What causes ADHD?

Researchers are working to find the causes of and risk factors of ADHD to understand the origin of the condition and better and find ways to prevent people from having ADHD. The main factors causing this disorder are still unknown, but studies conducted until now show that genetics has a vital role in the development of ADHD. 

Apart from genetics, scientists have found some other possible factors responsible for ADHD, which include:

• Premature delivery
• Low birth weight
• Use of tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy 
• Brain injury
• Exposure to hazardous environments, such as high levels of lead, at a young age

ADHD Treatment

Various treatments are available for people who have ADHD. There is no permanent cure for this condition, yet there are plenty of procedures to reduce the symptoms and improve the functioning and quality of life of the person having ADHD. The most common ways to treat ADHD include medication, therapy, education or training, or a combination of these.

Medication

The first medication in the treatment line for ADHD is stimulants, but doctors also prescribe non-stimulants to specific patients. ADHD medications help people by reducing impulsivity and hyperactivity. It also improves their ability to focus on work and learning.

Stimulants

Researchers believe that stimulants help control the symptoms of ADHD by increasing the brain chemical dopamine. It is a chemical that plays a vital role in attention and thinking.

Non-stimulants

These drugs often take longer to work than stimulants but have similar effects on the symptoms of ADHD, such as impulsivity, focus, and attention problems. Non-stimulants are especially helpful for people who experience severe side effects from stimulants. Doctors often prescribe these medications in combination with stimulants to achieve increased effectiveness.

Antidepressants

The FDA does not approve antidepressants for treating ADHD, but sometimes doctors use them to treat ADHD symptoms in adults. Antidepressants, which are called tricyclics, prove to help manage ADHD symptoms because they can affect the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine similar to stimulants.

Therapy

Therapy alone might not help manage the symptoms of ADHD. Still, researchers think that adding therapy in the treatment plan, along with the medication, can help the patient better cope with the disorder. 

A therapist or mental healthcare provider can help a person with ADHD organize their life by using tools such as keeping a schedule, breaking down large tasks into smaller and more manageable activities, developing a routine, etc.

Education and training

Healthcare professionals can educate the parents of a child with ADHD about the disorder and how it can affect a family. They can also help parents and children develop new skills and ways of relating to each other.

The things that education and training covers, include:

• Parenting skills training
• Stress management techniques
• Support groups

These methods can help people with ADHD and their families better manage the everyday problems related to this disorder.